Police Colonel Robert Lingbawan, chief of Regional Mobile Force Battalion (RMFB-7) | Pegeen Maisie Sararaña
CEBU CITY, Philippines — At least 250 fully-vaccinated personnel from the Regional Mobile Force Battalion of Central Visayas are set to help Cebu City policemen in ensuring health protocols are properly imposed.
Police Colonel Robert Lingbawan, chief of RMFB-7, said that there would be a send-off ceremony this Saturday afternoon, August 14, in the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) for these 250 RMFB personnel.
These policemen are intended to help the Cebu City policemen in the extended implementation of modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) in the city starting August 15.
Lingbawan further said that it would be up to the city director, Police Colonel Josefino Ligan, on how and where they would be assigned.
Recently, Police Lieutenant Colonel Wilbert Parilla, deputy director for operations of CCPO, admitted that they were undermanned if there would be additional border controls in the city.
As they await for the new orders from the city government, Parilla said that they would find ways to address this problem.
READ: CCPO ready to impose border controls once ordered
Lingbawan then assured that the deployed personnel already had their second doses of the vaccine.
He also that there would be no need to worry much about their safety as long as they still adhere to health protocols.
Lingbawan said 80 percent of their total police force had already been fully vaccinated.
The remaining 20 percent are those with comorbidities such as their pregnant personnel.
For the province, Lingbawan said that they were still waiting for the provincial director, Police Colonel Engelbert Soriano, should they need additional manpower in Cebu province.
As of today, 15 personnel from the RMFB contracted the COVID-19 virus. Of the 15, two are hospitalized and the remaining 13 are all asymptomatic and currently isolated in different isolation centers.
He further said that they had enough reserve and that their existing duties as law enforcers would continue as they also had their anti-criminality campaign to focus on.
RELATED STORIES
Tricities under MECQ, Cebu Province under GCQ with heightened restrictions until August 31
CCPO deploys policemen outside South Bus Terminal
24-hour Oplan Bulabog in Cebu City’s most COVID-hit barangays – CCPO exec
CCPO exec: Residents from other towns still allowed to pass through Cebu City
CCPO to have 100% vaccinated personnel soon
/dbs