ILOILO City – The Iloilo Provincial Police Office (IPPO) suspended all the leave privileges of its officers to ensure availability of personnel for security deployment and delivery of other services. IPPO director, Colonel Gilbert Gorero announced that no police personnel may avail of leave from work due to the full alert status still in effect since March 16 last year.
Gorero said since the start of the COVID-19 outbreak, all police units are on full alert status for the continued augmentation of its force. Following Governor Arthur Defensor Jr.’s signing of Executive Order (EO) 163 closing all resorts, beaches and other tourism establishments from May 22 to 31, Gorero did not allow his men to avail of their leave credits.
“With the added functions of the police on the implementation of health protocols, we cannot afford to deplete our personnel strength in sustaining the anti-criminality and anti-terrorism campaigns,” Gorero said. He added that the COVID-19 pandemic has not diminished but added to the responsibilities of the police in terms of border control and enforcement of health protocols.
“This is challenging, but we have to embrace it because this is expected in our kind of duty,” he said. Gorero encouraged his personnel to be physically, psychologically, and spiritually healthy to protect the Ilonggo community amidst the pandemic. The suspended leave privileges include: mandatory leave, special privilege leave, service leave, vacation leave, leave abroad, solo parent leave, and special emergency calamity leave. However, this does not include sick leave, maternity/paternity leave, study leave, and special leave benefits under the Magna Carta for Women (for minor and major surgical procedures). “We have to embrace the call of duty. We have to strictly implement health protocols not only to support the EO or our governor, but we have to do this to avoid an increase of cases.”
According to the EO, the daily average confirmed COVID-19 cases from May 4 to 18 reached 33, with a daily attack rate of 1.98, and a two-week growth rate of 37.26 percent. The data was taken during the Modified General Community Quarantine (MGCQ). The EO included adjusted protocols suspending the operations of recreational, tourism, and accommodation venues. These establishments may continue to operate provided they offer board and lodging to Authorized Persons Outside of their Residences (APORs). | via Ruby Silubrico/PN
