291 cops, poll execs reassigned

To avoid conflict of interest and to promote impartiality, police and election personnel who have relatives seeking an elective post in the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections on May 14 have been reassigned to other places.

Affected are 267 police personnel and 24 election officers.

Police Senior Inspector Reslyn Abella, deputy spokesperson of the Police Regional Office in Central Visayas, said this aims to promote absolute impartiality.

“General directive ni RD (Regional Director 7 Director Robert Quenery) is to remain impartial. I-reassign para intact ang atong impartiality ug dili pud ta ma question for conflict of interest,” she said.

Of the 267 police personnel, 111 are from Bohol Provincial Police Office, 64 from Cebu Provincial Police Office, 43 from Negros Oriental Provincial Police Office, 33 from Cebu City Police Office, 10 from Siquijor Provincial Police Office, four from Mandaue City Police Office, and two from LapuLapu City Police Office.

“Kung asa sila ibutang basta ang importante dili sila sa lugar kung asa mudagan ang ilang mga paryentes. After sa election balik ra sad sila,” Abella said.

COMELEC RESHUFFLING

On the other hand, the Commission on Elections in Central Visayas has reshuffled at least 23 election officers.

Of the number, 17 are from Bohol, three from Negros Oriental, and four from Cebu, including Provincial Election Officer Ferdinand Gujilde.

Gujilde is detailed temporarily as acting election officer of Naga City since the one assigned there is on maternity leave.

Alcantara town election officer Felino Mamalias and Malabuyoc election officer Florabel Macatol exchanged posts, as well as Maria Neriza Gigante, election officer of Santa Fe town, and Ma. Rena Martos, election officer of Madridejos town.

Lawyer Veronico Petalcorin, Comelec-7 acting director, said one of the primary duties of election officers is to be “impartial both in deeds and in perception.”

“To clear doubts from the people, some of the election officers that have friends or relatives running in the May elections are moved to another area of jurisdiction. So that they will not be criticized of being impartial,” he said.

The poll director said the commission wants to avoid tainting or jeopardizing the electoral exercise and does not want voters to doubt the integrity of its function.

He advised election officers to disclose if they have relatives running for public office on May 14 and voluntarily request for transfer.

POLICE DEPLOYMENT

Meanwhile, PRO-7 is also set to deploy 1,000 police personnel from city police offices and Regional Mobile Force Battalion to the provinces of Bohol and Cebu.

Abella said both BPPO and CPPO have requested for augmentation.

Bohol has 18 barangays recommended to be included among election hot spots or be placed under election watchlist areas (EWAs) while Cebu has seven, said Abella.

Police Senior Superintendent Edgar Alan Okubo, CPPO director, earlier said they reduced their requested augmentation force to 340 from 700 to give way to other provincial police offices that needed additional personnel.