The Digos City Police station the accusation that they were singling out a nurse who attempted to pass through their checkpoint.
The police reacted to the statement of the Philippine Nurses Association (PNA) Regional Council XI and PNA Davao del Sur Chapter “condemning the act of law enforcers in checkpoints for not honoring the PRC and employment ID’s in lieu of quarantine pass.”
Meanwhile, the police station said that its personnel at the checkpoint were merely implementing the guidelines stipulated in Executive Order No. 31 in relation to COVID-19 pandemic. They were also instructed to verify the authority to travel on any person passing through the checkpoint.
“Wherein during that time, she only showed her PRC license as Registered Nurse (RN) and failed to show any company ID to support her claim as one of the frontliners, showing indeed, that she is practicing her profession,” the statement added.
The certificate of employment was only presented by her sister “during the verification of our personnel in charge outside the Digos City Gym and after which, she was released immediately.”
The Digos City PNP is also willing to address any complaint regarding its personnel.
“Rest assured that the PNP Digos and all of the concerned agencies are doing their best to fight and protect the citizens of Digos for this dreaded disease,” it further said.
According to the post of the Philippine Nurses Association, they received a complaint from one nurse who was apprehended near LYR building along Rizal Avenue. The nurse and her sister were on board a tricycle when a man in uniform performed a random inspection.
Both of them were asked for their quarantine pass. The sister of the registered nurse showed her quarantine pass while the registered nurse showed her PRC and Company ID.
However, the officer asked for a certificate of employment.
Thus, the nurse was brought to Digos City gymnasium via patrol car. Despite her explanation, she was penalized to serve two hours of community service for violating the city ordinance.
“We condemn such incident and we demand a public apology. We fervently pray that this will not happen again not just for nurses but for all health workers, as well, ” the statement said.
