PNP Explains Chismosas Only Hired To “Help” With Contact Tracing Of COVID Patients
CHISMOSAS FOR CONTACT TRACING – According the Philippine National Police (PNP), chismosas would only be asked to “help” with contact tracing for COVID-19 patients.
PNP Spokesperson Brig. Gen Bernard Banac said that they would only use the barangay to get information from “chismis” to find potential coronavirus patients. Based on an article from ABS-CBN, Banac stated:
Ito namang activity, basic lamang na pagtatanong sa barangay at alam niyo naman ang pangyayari sa barangay ay alam ‘yan ng mga nakatira lalo na ‘yung mga umpuk-umpukan na nakatira sa kanto at sa palengke, ‘yung nagtitinda ng taho, sorbetes, malalaman mo kung sino ang positibo
(In this activity, questions directed to the barangay would be basic. We all know that what’s happening within a barangay would be known by the people in the area. Especially when people are clumped together in the streets, markets, taho, sorbets vendors, you would know who is positive).
As per the article, the Police Regional Office 7 recently asked help from the “tsimoso and tsimosa” in for contact tracing. Moreover, Cebu City, the hotspot of COVID-19 in the Philippines can be located in Region 7.
However, the use of these methods of information gathering caused much concern for the Commission of Humans Rights. They argued that authorities should seek help from experts instead. Meanwhile, Banac said that the information gathered from “chismis” would immediately be given to contact tracers for confirmation.
Kaagad naman ito ipapasa sa contact tracers upang kumpirmahin kung talagang may validated ‘yung mga ganitong tsismis. Bahagi lamang ng ating trabaho sa mga barangay lalo na sa pag-maintain sa peace and order o street crimes na nangyayari
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