PNP to transfer more than 300 cops with kin running in barangay, SK elections

By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan

Around 327 members of the Philippine National Police have been identified to have family members and other relatives running for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) in October this year.
    In a press briefing held at Camp Crame on Wednesday, PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said policemen whose family members and relatives who will run for barangay elections should expect to be reassigned to other areas in order to isolate the police organization from partisan politics.
    “Based on the survey we conducted, there were 327 of our personnel whose relatives would possibly run for the barangay elections,” Fajardo told reporters, adding that the rule covers relatives up to 4th degree of blood relations.
    She said the reassignment is not yet final since the PNP is still waiting for the end of the filing of certificate of candidacy which will start on Aug. 28.
    Fajardo said temporary reassignments of policemen away from the areas where they have relatives seeking elective post is a normal practice in the PNP.

“Hindi lang porke na sinabi ito ay malapit dito sa isang kandidato (It's not that a certain cop is close to a candidate) that will only be the basis of the PNP. Again we have to really validate and assess kung meron po bang batayan na sinasabi ng ilang mga pulitiko na maaaring makaimpluwensya ng election sa kanilang mga lugar (if there is any basis for what some politicians claim that may influence the election in their areas),” Fajardo said.

She said all PNP personnel are aware of this protocol. “This is not the first time that this will be done. Our personnel are aware of this and that’s the reason why we conducted the survey.”

Earlier, PNP chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. said the identification of the policemen will serve as a major factor in the adjustment of assignments on the days leading to the elections.

“We identified these police officers to really make sure that they will not become partisan in this forthcoming election,” he said.

The intention, according to Acorda, is to isolate all PNP personnel from partisan politics amid past experiences wherein the barangay elections are considered the most challenging in terms of security and peace and order.

The filing of certificate of candidacy for the BSKE will start on Aug. 28 until Sept. 2 and by that time, the PNP hopes to come up with a list of all their personnel whose relatives are running for the local posts.

“We will make some adjustments before the election ban comes,” said Acorda.

He added the police force is ready to secure the barangay elections, adding that security measures are now being implemented for their goal of zero violence.

Among them are the aggressive campaign against private armed groups and loose firearms.

The election period for the Oct. 30 village and youth polls will run until Nov. 29 while the campaign period is set from Oct. 19 to 28. -- PNA