Eleazar to helm PNP as OIC while Sinas battles coronavirus
MANILA, Philippines — (Updated 2:38 p.m.) Police Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar on Friday said he was tasked with taking over the affairs of the Philippine National Police following confirmation that its chief, Gen. Debold Sinas, contracted COVID-19.
In a statement released to reporters, Eleazar, who serves as the PNP's deputy chief for administration, said he was designated officer-in-charge of the police force "as a matter of protocol."
"As OIC PNP, I will be taking over the affairs of the PNP temporarily and until such time that our Chief PNP fully recovers," he said.
"Right now, the Chief PNP is doing well and I am in constant communication with him for consultation especially on matters that require his attention and guidance."
Sinas, who gained national notoriety last year for his birthday party held amid a stringent lockdown, was confirmed to be positive for coronavirus Thursday night. Police Brig. Gen. Ildebrandi Usana, PNP spokesman, at the time told reporters that there was no cause for worry.
The top cop was at the oath-taking of newly promoted star rank officers at Camp Crame in Quezon City on Wednesday, as shown in photos posted on PNP's social media pages.
"Amid this development, the PNP leadership renews call for members of the organization and the general public to continue strictly observing health safety protocols," Eleazar said.
"The threat of coronavirus remains and in fact we have been observing an upsurge of COVID-19 cases in the past days as reported by the [health] department. Thus, we should all be vigilant for our protection, and for the protection of our families."
'Aggressive' contact tracing
In a separate statement released later Friday, the PNP said it would be conducting "aggressive contact-tracing on police personnel and civilian employees who made close contact with [Sinas]."
“Based on the guidance of our Chief PNP, General Debold Sinas, all our personnel who made close contact with him must be checked as a matter of protocol and for their health safety and the safety of their family,” Eleazar is quoted as saying.
PNP added that Brig. Gen. Ildebrandi Usana is already coordinating with members of the press corps who were at Camp Crame on Wednesday.
High risk close contacts, those who did not observe the minimum health safety protocol such as wearing of face masks and face shields and observance of physical distancing, will be required to report to a PNP quarantine facility.
"They will only be allowed to leave the quarantine facility once cleared by medical personnel."
Low-risk contacts, or those who observed minimum health protocols, will still be allowed to report to their respective offices as long as they continue to maintain public health standards.
[T]heir compliance will be strictly monitored by the Station Health Units or the designated Administrative Officer (ADMO) of their respective units and offices."
The PNP did not further comment on whether minimum health standards were breached during the event attended by Sinas.
As of this writing, the PNP has reported a total 12,001 coronavirus cases and 72 deaths among its ranks.
On Thursday, the Philippines logged its highest number of new infections in almost six months, with 3,749 more entries bringing the national caseload to 607,048.
Despite the presence of two more infectious variants of the virus in the country, the Department of Health insists that the consistent and dramatic rise in infections is a result of poorer compliance with health protocols.
— Bella Perez-Rubio with reports from Franco Luna
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