Cops allegedly giving flyers red-tagging groups caught on cam

MANILA, Philippines (Updated 10:27 p.m.) — Members of the Philippine National Police were reportedly caught on camera distributing newsletters tagging party-list groups Bayan Muna and the Makabayan bloc as “New People’s Army supporters”, in a public school in Manila Monday.

Pulis Serbis Balita, as its page states, is the official newsletter of the Philippine National Police. The distribution of flyers allegedly happened inside Geronimo Elementary School in Sampaloc, Manila.

Section 192 of the Omnibus Election Code of the Philippines prohibits policemen, special forces or security guards within the premises of the voting place, unless in events of an actual disturbance. 

PNP’s newsletter also reported having allegedly found firearms alongside campaign paraphernalia of Bayan Muna and the Kabataan party-list at Barangay Culasian, Palawan. 

Both groups are members of the Makabayan bloc, a progressive coalition of 12 party-lists.

Election watchdog Kontra-Daya Metro Manila received multiple reports of the activity, including a video of an unidentified man allegedly distributing the newsletter within the premises of the polling place.

Section 85 of the same Omnibus Election Code qualifies prohibited forms of election propaganda. It further states that it is unlawful to post or distribute any printed matter advertising for or against any candidate or political party. 

Meanwhile, Makabayan Southern Tagalog also received reports of black propaganda distribution against Makabayan Senate bet Neri Colmenares.

Separate incidents of the distribution of materials red-tagging the Makabayan bloc were recorded at a voting precinct in Palawan and Sta. Rosa City, Laguna. — Blanch Marie Ancla

(Editor's note: An earlier version of this article referred to the PNP newsletter as "Pulis Series Balita". That has been corrected to "Pulis Serbis Balita".)