1 Republic of the Philippines

2 Office of the President

3 PHILIPPINE DRUG ENFORCEMENT AGENCY
4 PDEA Bldg. NIA Northside Road, National Government Center, Barangay Pinyahan,
Quezon City 1100 | (02) 927-9702 ; (02) 928-4060 ; (02) 928-6358 ; (02) 928-5292
5 pdea.gov.ph PDEA Top Stories PDEA@PdeaTopStories pdeatopstories
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8 March 2019
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10 MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR
11 NO. 2019 - ________
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13 TO : All Concerned
14 SUBJECT : Additional Guidelines on Handling Detainees with HIV,
15 Contagious Disease and while recuperating in the hospital
16 __________________________________________________________________________________
17 I. REFERENCES
18 A. Republic Act 8504, the Philippine AIDS and Prevention and Control Act of 1998
19 B. Republic Act No. 11166, Also known as the “Philippine HIV and AIDS Policy Act”.
20 C. Manual of Operations of PDEA Detention Facility
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22 II. BACKGROUND
23 According to the Department of Health (DOH), UNAIDS reported that the global HIV epidemic in
24 the Philippines has doubled in the past years from an estimated 4,300 in 2010 to an estimated 10,500 in
25 2016. The Philippines has become the country with the fastest growing HIV epidemic in Asia and the
26 Pacific, and has become one of eight countries that account for more than 85% of new HIV infections in
27 the region.
28 Contagious Disease on the other hand is an inevitable and at times unforeseen occurrence. Over
29 the years, the Philippines suffers different types of diseases such as dengue, measles, bird flu, etc. that
30 unfortunately resulted to several deaths of Filipinos.
31 In PDEA, there has been a number of cases of arrested suspects with HIV/AIDS. Most of which
32 are from illegal drug operations with confiscation of ecstasy and drug couriers from Africa. Other arrested
33 suspects also have these contagious diseases and or might have also acquired from the PDEA Detention
34 Facilities.
35 Further, the past operations of PDEA, there has been several instances that arrested
36 personalities retaliate, thus, causing the PDEA operatives to fight back as a result thereof, both or either
37 from the PDEA operatives and arrested personalities are wounded. As a Standard Operations Procedure
38 (SOP), operatives as much as possible bring the suspects to hospital and thereafter guard the same to
39 secure and ensure that the same will not evade.
40 Currently, the existing Manual of Operations for PDEA Detention Facility lacks provision on the
41 handling of HIV/AIDS and or Contagious Disease and arrested personalities in recuperating the hospital
42 hence, this additional guideline on its proper handling is formulated.
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44 III. OBJECTIVE
45 This guideline aims to provide standard in the management of HIV/AIDS cases, contagious
46 diseases within PDEA Jail Facility and arrested personalities.
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48 IV. SCOPE/COVERAGE
49 This guideline shall be implemented in all PDEA Jail Facilities nationwide and during PDEA
50 operations.
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52 V. DEFINITION OF TERMS
53 A. Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) – is a condition characterized by a weakened
54 immune system caused by HIV infection contracted from an HIV infected person, with a
55 combination of signs and symptoms of opportunistic infections, making the afflicted individual
56 susceptible to other life threatening conditions.
57 B. Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) – refers to a virus, which attacks, impairs, or destroys
58 the cell of the human immune system specifically CD4 T-cells, resulting to progressive
59 deterioration or deficiency of the immune system. HIV causes AIDS.
60 C. HIV Focal Person/HIV in-charge – a duly designated personnel of the agency assigned to
61 oversee this guideline in accordance with the HIV program.
62 D. HIV Positive -
63 E. HIV Testing -
64 F. Medical Confidentiality
65 G.
66
67 VI. IMPLEMENTING GUIDELINES
68 A. Administrative
69 1. Each PDEA Regional Office shall identify Drug Enforcement Officer (DEO) with medical
70 background and shall be designated by virtue of Agency Order signed by DG, PDEA as
71 PDEA RO Health Officer in each PDEA Detention Facility.
72 2. The PDEA RO Health Officer will also act as the HIV Focal Person/HIV In-charge
73 3. The HIV Program shall be integrated as far as practicable within the PDEA Detention Facility
74 4. To ensure that the PDEA RO Health Officer possess knowledge in current diseases,
75 prevention and treatment, adequate and continues training shall be provided/ shouldered by
76 the Agency shouldered to all PDEA RO Health Officer including training relative to HIV/AIDS
77 program.
78 B. Handling of Detainee/s with HIV/AIDS
79 1. After the arrest, DEO/s shall inquire the health condition of all arrested personality to ensure
80 if medical attention is needed during the processing of the case.
81 2. If arrested personality confirms that he has HIV/AIDS, immediately the DEOs shall check if
82 C. Handling of Detainee/s with Contagious Disease
83 D. Handling of Detainee/s recuperating in the Hospital
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