CEBU, Philippines — At least 10 police personnel assigned under the Cebu Police Provincial Office (CPPO) have been reassigned for having relatives running for a position in the upcoming 2022 elections in the area where they were previously assigned.
According to CPPO Director Colonel Engelbert Soriano, the transfers are meant to maintain the non-partisan mandate of the Philippine National Police (PNP).
Soriano said that most of the 10 transferred personnel are police non-commissioned officers (PNCO).
“Katulad nang isang PNCO sa Santa Fe, Bantayan na ang tatay niya ay tumatakbo, independent na mayor, so during my last visit, walang choice kundi ilipat muna siya sa kabilang estasyon,dahil yun ang policy ng PNP at saka ng COMELEC,” said Soriano.
As to where they will be reassigned, Soriano said that it will depend on whether the police personnel are close relatives to the candidates running.
“Unless siguro na merong issue sa kanya, medyo ilayo natin ng konti, otherwise, dyan lang sa tabing area, Kasi we are also considering yung personal situation nila,” said Soriano.
CPPO is still in the process of identifying other personnel who may be in a similar position as the 10. Once identified, Soriano said they will also be transferred to other stations.
Top PNP officials have been constantly reminding their members to avoid being involved in political campaigns and to remain apolitical during the election season.
In Cebu, Soriano said he has been conducting rounds in city and municipal police stations under the CPPO to orient the chiefs of police on the Omnibus Election Code.
“Hangga’t hindi naman violative ang actions ng ating mga kasamahan natin dito sa nasabi kong batas ay wala naman tayong basis na silay i-relieve o kasohan,” he said.
He, however, said that they will be closely monitoring the social media activities of the CCPO members and assured that once a violation is committed, they will immediately conduct an investigation.
This was also the same reminder that CCPO Director Colonel Josefino Ligan gave to the men and women in uniform in Cebu City.
Once a police officer is proven to have campaigned or sided with a political aspirant, Ligan said he or she will be relieved from post and will be slapped with administrative charges. — JMD (FREEMAN)