2,956 PNP personnel with kin running in BSKE reassigned

MANILA, Philippines — Up to 2,956 police officers who might influence the outcome of the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE) in their localities on Oct. 30 were reassigned outside their areas of responsibility, the Philippine National Police (PNP) reported yesterday.

PNP chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. said most of the reassigned officers have relatives who are running in the BSKE, thus making it necessary for them to be stationed in other areas.

Apart from affinity by blood relations, Acorda said there were also those who, based on intelligence reports, might play a role in the outcome of the elections due to familiarity in the areas where they are assigned.

The PNP chief reminded police officers that they can be transferred to other areas if they are reported to have relatives or associates running in this year’s local polls.

“We can transfer more as soon as we could identify more personnel that need to be assigned elsewhere,” Acorda said, adding that the reassigned police officers will return to their previous posts once the elections are over. He earlier noted that the PNP is 70 percent ready with security preparations with over a month before the elections, saying “we have provided all the guidance, the necessary measures.” The PNP identified at least 27 “areas of concern” for the upcoming polls – mostly for their history of poll-related violence, intense political rivalry and presence of armed rebel groups.

But Acorda said the number could still rise as the polling day approaches.

Premature campaigning

Meanwhile, the Commission on Elections (Comelec), in the latest data it released, has identified 737 BSKE candidates that have allegedly engaged in premature campaign activities way ahead of the designated start of the campaign period.

“As of Sept. 15, 2023, we already issued a total of 737 show cause orders,” Comelec Chairman George Edwin Garcia said.

The poll body on Friday evening said 111 candidates were added to their list of 626 candidates that were issued show cause orders.

Garcia said these BSKE candidates would face due process if they would fail to explain to the Comelec within three days from receipt of the show cause order.

“We will proceed with the filing of election offense cases and disqualification cases (after the period lapses),” Garcia added.

The Comelec said electioneering activities are still prohibited until Oct. 18 and that the campaign period will only start on Oct. 19. — Rhodina Villanueva