A Police Non-Commissioned Officer up for retirement this week became the 22nd COVID-19 fatality in the 209,000-strong Philippine National Police, the Journal Group learned yesterday.
Described as PNP Patient No. 6934, the fatality was described as a 55-year-old PNCO assigned at the Bangsamoro Administrative Region Police Regional Office. The cop passed away last Thursday, said the PNP Health Service headed by Brigadier General Ronaldo E. Olay.
However, the official said that 6,318 of the total 6,955 officers and men of the police force who have contracted the virus since last March have already recovered from the disease and are now back on full duty status.
He added that they are still monitoring 615 “active cases” in the PNP.
The 21st fatality was described as a 45-year-old PNCO from the Police Regional Office 4-A in Calabarzon region who expired last October 16.
The 20th fatality was identified as a 50-year old PNCO from the National Capital Region Police Office while the 19th is a 51-year old PNCO from the Police Security and Protection Group.
The 18th was a 54-year old Police Commissioned Officer from a Regional Maritime Unit who died last October 5.
On Friday, the PNP-HS recorded 28 new COVID-19 cases in the force, five coming from the PRO2 in Cagayan Valley, PRO3 in Central Luzon and PRO10 in Northern Mindanao.
The others are the following: 4 from NCRPO; 2 each form PRO1 in Ilocos-Pangasinan region and PRO4-A; and 1 each from PRO6 in Western Visayas, PRO9 in Western Mindanao, PRO12 in Central Mindanao, Cordillera police regional office and a PNP National Administrative Support Unit.
Last September 18, the PNP-HS reported the 17th COVID-19 fatality in the police organization: a 28-year old PNCO from the NCRPO who succumbed to medical co-morbidities and complications aggravated by the virus.
