Police Lieutenant Colonel Wilbert Parilla, deputy director for operations of the Cebu City Police Office. CDN Digital photo | Morexette Marie B. Erram
CEBU CITY, Philippines — The Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) said eight more Persons Under PNP Custody (PUPCs) contracted COVID-19 as of yesterday, February 8, 2021.
Police Lieutenant Colonel Wilbert Parilla, the deputy director for operations of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO), acknowledged the possibility that this contraction happens because the filing of cases for those apprehended takes time given the pandemic.
“Mutake time ang pag process and ang pag file og kaso so possible nagkatakod diha sa sud sa detention facilities,” Parilla said.
Parilla said the infected PUPCs are from Police Station 2 (Osmena Boulevard) who were arrested because of illegal drugs. The arrested individuals are currently isolated inside Station 2 with some already having commitment orders from the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) and are waiting to be turned over there.
Parilla also informed that four police officers who have direct contact with these PUPCs are already isolated and are waiting for their swab results.
Since they cannot test all arrested individuals as of now, Parilla said they will only subject to swab testing those who are showing COVID-19 symptoms.
As of today, February 9, 2021, there are already 14 PUPCs who contracted the virus. /rcg