91 cop trainees in Caraga downed due to suspected contaminated water, food

By BEN SERRANO,
Correspondent

BUTUAN CITY — Some 91 police trainees undergoing Public Safety Field Training Program (PSFTP) Class 2015-02 at the Caraga PNP Training School in Barangay Lipata, Surigao City were hospitalized on Friday afternoon due diarrhea after complaining stomach aches that resulted to lose bowel movements.

In an interview Tuesday morning, Caraga PNP regional public information officer Police Supt. Daniel Peusca told the Gold Star Daily they still have to get the official results from the laboratory tests to ascertain the cause of the diarrhea. Peusca, however, suspects the diarrhea outbreak among the police trainees may have something to do with some contamination in the potable water supply and the food the trainees at the PNP training center.

“This is what they are investigating now spearheaded by the training director Supt. Maca in Surigao City as they suspected the diarrhea was caused by the food they ate and the water they drank. Unfortunately we don’t have the official results yet from the laboratory,” Peusca said.

Peusca claimed the food at the only training center for newly recruited cops in Caraga Region were supplied by private food catering services.

In the official Police Regional Office-13 report claimed that around 6 p.m. Friday, some 50 members of PSFTP Class 2015-02 sought assistance from Surigao City Quick Action Response Team and brought the victims to Caraga Regional Hospital located in Surigao City proper.

Later, another 41 trainees already given first aid at the PNP training center in Barangay Lipata were brought to same hospital after complaining of the same symptoms.

Out of the 91 brought to the Caraga Regional Hospital 27 were confined and under supervision while 64 were treated as out-patients and were advised by attending doctors Bernie Bodlongon and Luis Lagarde to drink sufficient water to rehydrate with medication and under medical observations for three days.

Five personnel from Surigao City Health Office headed by Dr. Arlene T. Felizarta, Medical Officer V and Mr Michael A. Plaza, Surveillance Officer of the Department of Health assigned in Surigao City with some police top officials in the region are now spearheading medical investigation of the incident, the PNP reports claimed.