Cops reminded: Be impartial, non-partisan
THE Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Thursday, May 19, reminded all police personnel to remain impartial and non-partisan in the performance of their duties during the upcoming Barangay and Sanguniang Kabataan (SK) elections on May 14.
DILG officer-in-charge Eduardo M. Año said the Philippine National Police (PNP), as the country's principal law enforcement agency, should work hand-in-hand with the Commission on Election (Comelec) field offices and focus all its efforts in ensuring the peaceful and orderly conduct of the Barangay and SK elections as a whole and not only for the benefit of the candidates they are supporting.
“The PNP should coordinate with Comelec election officers and provincial election supervisors all activities and operations in relation to the village polls and follow all instructions from the commission,” he said.
Año said under Republic Act 6713, Republic Act 3019 and the PNP Ethical Doctrine, members of the PNP, as personnel working for the government and law enforcement entity, shall provide services to everyone without discrimination regardless of party affiliation in accordance with existing laws and regulations.
The DILG OIC expressed alarm over reports of vote buying in several areas which prompted him to order PNP chief Oscar Albayalde to take proactive steps in preventing these activities.
He said the PNP must intensify foot patrols in the barangays and increase police presence in order to deter incidents of vote buying and if there's a report of alleged vote buying, the PNP must investigate immediately.
“The police should be on the look-out for any incidents of vote buying and ensure that culpable parties are arrested and charged,” he said.
Meanwhile, PNP spokesperson Chief Superintendent John Bulalacao said at least 1,900 police personnel who have relatives running for various posts were re-assigned to other areas.
“It has always been the policy of the PNP to revamp personnel who has relatives na tumatakbo during election so they will not be influencing the result of the election,” he said.