Police re-assign cops affiliated with poll bets

POLICE SAID it re-assigned some 1,370 policemen affiliated with candidates in the coming May elections to ensure impartiality and non-partisan enforcement of the law.

The reshuffle likewise covered 121 provincial directors, city directors, mobile force commanders, and chiefs of police who have reached the maximum two-year tour of duty in their assignments.

The limited reshuffle of personnel is an administrative measure t by police personnel, particularly in areas where they have relatives running for local elective positions. “As non-partisan and deputized law enforcement agency of the Commission on Elections, we strongly and firmly remain faithful to our apolitical mandate to ensure and protect the will of the electorate towards honest, orderly and peaceful elections,” General Oscar Albayalde.

Directorate for Personnel and Records Management (DPRM) head, Major General Lyndon Cubos said there are 1,858 police personnel who have blood relations and affinity with politicians running in the polls. However, only 1,370 are presently assigned in the political jurisdictions of the candidates, while 488 are assigned elsewhere, thus there is no need to relieve them from their present assignments.

Those reassigned were 26 police commissioned officers and 1,344 non-commissioned officers. At the same time, the PNP has issued resignation orders to five police personnel, who were deemed resigned from the service upon filing their Certificates of Candidacy (COCs) for local elective posts.

These include a vice mayoral candidate in Bukidnon and four aspirants running for municipal councilor in Surigao del Norte, Northern Samar, Lanao del Sur, and Zamboanga del Sur, respectively. Section 24 of COMELEC Resolution 10420, which tackles the effects of filing a Certificate of Candidacy, states that “any person holding a public appointed office or position, including those in uniformed service, shall be considered ipso facto resigned from the office and must vacate the same at the start of the day of the filing of COC.” (Christopher Lloyd Caliwan)