SECURING THE BORDER. Personnel from the Army's 23rd Infantry Battalion provide assistance to members of the Inter-Agency Task Force that man the quarantine checkpoint in Bancasi, Butuan City. The Army unit says it has a patient under investigation with mild symptoms while another eight are considered as persons under monitoring for 2019 coronavirus disease. (PNA photo by Alexander Lopez)
BUTUAN CITY – A soldier of the Army's 23rd Infantry Battalion has been listed as a patient under investigation (PUI) with mild symptoms while another eight are considered persons under monitoring (PUMs), a top Army official said Tuesday.
Lt. Col. Francisco L. Molina, Jr., 23IB commander, told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) that the eight Army troopers were on vacation and no longer allowed to travel back to their headquarters after confirmation that their respective hometowns have been hit by the 2019 coronavirus disease (Covid-19).
“I ordered them to stay home, do not travel, and have themselves undergo self-quarantine. We listed them as PUMs as they are in an area with positive Covid-19 cases though they did not have any symptoms such as cough, cold or fever,” Molina said.
The Army personnel listed as mild PUI did not have record of travels in areas with positive cases of Covid-19, he added.
“He had a cough and complained of a sore throat so we immediately segregated him in a place outside our camp. He stayed there alone and being monitored by health personnel,” Molina said.
Molina also stressed that as of Monday, (March 30), the PUI was in good condition and already recovered from cough and sore throat.
The self-quarantine of the nine Army personnel will be completed early next week, he added.
“We immediately imposed strict regulations here inside the camp to prevent the spread of the disease. All our soldiers and visitors are now required to step to a footbath placed at our gate. All vehicles are also sprayed with disinfectant before entering our camp,” he said.
Molina also emphasized the importance of providing information to the soldiers on Covid-19 and the measures that will help protect themselves as they render services at the quarantine checkpoints.
Molina said the 23rd IB daily grind now includes the morning physical fitness and conditioning, to include the basic ‘army dozen’ and a good diet of vegetables and fruits.
He said the 23IB is providing security support to the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) composed of the Philippine National Police (PNP), the Department of Health (DOH), and other line agencies in six major quarantine checkpoints in Agusan del Norte and Butuan City, and in the eastern part of Gingoog City and the town of Magsaysay in Misamis Oriental.
“We are on the supporting role, looking and ensuring the security of the members of the task force that implement measures in quarantine checkpoints to contain the spread of Covid-19,” Molina said.
He added that amidst the Covid-19 threats, the 23IB is not putting its guard down against the communist New People’s Army (NPA).
Molina said despite the declaration of ceasefire, previous incidents tell how the NPA exploited the situation for their gains.
“We are not prevented to conduct security patrols. Our mandate is to protect the communities and the people. We are committed to perform this mandate at all times,” he added. (PNA)
