Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 1) — Health workers will be given added protection by the police after incidents of attack and harassment related to their line of work.
Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles on Wednesday said police personnel manning checkpoints were instructed to escort COVID-19 frontliners to their workplace.
“For the added peace of mind of our health workers, PNP personnel manning Quarantine Control Stations are under instructions to assist them and escort them to their assigned hospitals,” he said during the Inter-Agency Task Force Media briefing.
He said he received a commitment from Philippine National Police Chief Archie Gamboa that local police units will provide all possible assistance and security to medical staff and health workers following the two separate incidents of violent attacks in Cebu and Sultan Kudarat.
DILG Secretary Eduardo Año has also ordered increased police visibility near medical facilities to secure medical workers from criminals. The order came after St. Louis Hospital in Tacurong City reported that five strangers attacked one of their health workers and threw bleach on his face on March 27. The entire country is under a state of emergency due to the novel coronavirus pandemic.
Nograles said charges may be filed against those who perpetrate this type of violent acts against modern-day heroes.
“Threatening the safety of our healthcare workers in the midst of this crisis is unacceptable. PNP is committed to apply the full might of the law against those who dare to harm our healthcare workers and will whatever it takes to protect them from harm, violence, and any form of oppression and discrimination. Hindi po tayo papayag na galawin ang ating mga bayani,” he said.
