Philippine National Police chief Gen. Archie Francisco Gamboa (Photo by Lloyd Caliwan)
MANILA – Newly-entered cadets of the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) are required to undergo isolation and coronavirus testing, PNP chief Gen. Archie Francisco Gamboa said on Monday.
Gamboa said the move is to ensure that members of the PNPA Class 2024 are safe from the disease, even as the reasons of the death of the two cadets who died within in a span of three days are heat stroke and low potassium.
"I do not want to discount the possibility that there is infection at PNPA and other training camps because of other experiences abroad," Gamboa told reporters in a press briefing held at Camp Crame.
On Wednesday, Cadet 4th Class Kenneth Ross Alvarado died of heat stroke and two days later, Cadet 4th Class Jiary Jasen Papa succumbed to low potassium. Both are from the PNPA Class 2024.
The PNPA Class 2024 consists of 254 males and 52 females. Their reception rite was held on July 3.
Gamboa also ordered a review on the activities for new recruits after the death of the two cadets.
"We still need to review it and really find out siguro from the findings kung ano yung naging dahilan bakit namatay yung dalawa [on what were the reasons why the two died]," Gamboa said.
Gamboa, however, dismissed the angle that health protocols in the PNPA were at fault. Adjustments of protocols and procedures would be revisited, he added.
"We should balance this so I hope 'di na mangyari [I hope this will never happen again]," he added.
All activities for new cadets have been temporarily suspended due to the deaths of the two cadets.
Gamboa said they also have to ensure the safety of all incoming policemen in various training centers across the country.
More than 4,000 recruits are currently undergoing training programs in various major police camps of the country.
Gamboa said a meeting would be held between the PNPA and the National Police Training Institute to review measures to protect cadets and police trainees from infection.
"The danger here is that if one of them is infected, there is a possibility of mass infection because they stay and train in the same place," he added. (PNA)
