Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Police General Guillermo Lorenzo T. Eleazar directed the accounting of police officers whose relatives and family members are running for local elective positions, especially at the local level, in the May 2022 elections.
This, according to PGen Eleazar , is to ensure that members of police ranks will not engage in partisan politics.
“As part of our commitment to continuously isolate the PNP from partisan politics, I have already instructed all chiefs of police to start the accounting of their respective personnel whose relatives have already filed the COC or would certainly run for public office in the May elections,” PGen Eleazar said.
“The purpose is to possibly re-assign them eventually in other areas outside the cities, municipalities and provinces where relatives of our personnel would seek elective posts,” he added.
Citing cases in the past, the Chief PNP explained that there were complaints and reports received about some policemen actively campaigning for their relatives and intervening on their behalf.
While most of the allegations are not true, PGen Eleazar stressed that these incidents only revealed that police officers may also be subjected to harassments and victims of false allegations.
“This is to ensure that any of our personnel would not be given the opportunity to intervene and likewise prevent speculations and allegations in the future that the PNP is engaging in partisan politics, especially at the local level,” said PGen Eleazar.
The Chief PNP then vowed the police organization would remain apolitical and will take the initiative of holding any of the personnel accountable in cases of defiance of this commitment.
Meanwhile, PGen Eleazar said the filing of the COCs and Certificate of Nomination and Acceptance nationwide has remained peaceful and orderly, noting that police personnel will remain vigilant in securing this process up to its last day.
“Nasa kalagitnaan na tayo ng filing of COC at ng CONA at nananatiling maayos at tahimik ang prosesong ito sa nakalipas na tatlong araw. We have prepared well for this, and we are confident that the peaceful and orderly filing of COCs and CONAs will be maintained until the last day,” PGen Eleazar said.
Photo Courtesy: gobyerknows.com
https://pnp.gov.ph/index.php/news-and-information/5120-eleazar-directs-accounting-of-pnp-personnel-whose-kin-will-run-in-2022-polls-in-their-aors