Farmers are alarmed with the rising cases of COVID-19 within the Philippine National Police (PNP) institution and warned that the police force could be ‘oblivious superspreaders’ of the dreaded virus. As of July 11, the PNP said its organization has 1,044 confirmed cases, 1,364 suspected cases, and 651 probable cases of COVID19. Out of these numbers, 462 already recovered while 9 deaths were registered.

A superspreader is an unusually contagious individual who’s been infected with a disease. A COVID-19 superspreader can infect an average of two to three individuals. “With the manner in which COVID-19 cases are spreading within the ranks of the PNP, we have to question how they are carrying out health protocols and precautions to prevent the spread of the virus,” Ramos added.

The highest number of cases are within the National Capital Region Police Office, with 354 cases, followed by PRO-7 in Central Visayas with 248 cases, the PNP National Support Units with 81 cases, and PRO-Calabarzon with 69 cases. PRO-7 in Cebu has 830 suspected cases awaiting confirmatory testing. In Visayas, Cebu City is fast-becoming a COVID-19 epicenter with more than 5,000 cases.

“We have seen how the PNP and other agencies under the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) acted irresponsibly in violation of minimum health and quarantine protocols. We could make a list of their violations and declare that PNP as ‘COVID-19 superspreaders’, says Danilo Ramos, chairperson of KMP. On May 8, NCRPO Chief Debold Sinas’ held a mananita birthday party despite a ban on mass gatherings. A virus-positive employee of the Bureau of Fire and Protection roamed in Boracay while waiting for her test results when she was supposed to be under quarantine. Police forces have also arrested individuals practicing physical distancing and wearing facemasks in peaceful assemblies. Such as the June 26 arrest of 20 Pride Month protesters who were cramped in vehicles and inside overloaded jails. The police have also arrested thousands of so-called quarantine violators, further filling already brimming cells, further endangering mass infection. Such unnecessary infection has already happened with the case of PISTON 6 drivers, two of whom tested positive after being incarcerated at a Caloocan jail for more than a week.

KMP further renewed its call for free mass testing amid the rising cases of COVID-19 in the country. #