Police Chief Oscar Albayalde on Monday threatened his men with penalties if they are found engaging in partisan politics during the midterm elections in May 2019.
He said the members of the police forces should not in any way provide their services to any person, especially those seeking elective positions in 2019.
READ: PNP revives special task force to check on election hot spots
“We are repeatedly reminding our commanders on the ground not to be partisan. They should not participate in any political activity or side with anybody,” Albayalde said.
He made his statement even as the Commission on Elections on Monday advised the candidates running for the 2019 national and local elections to refrain from giving gifts, which the poll body would consider as premature campaigning.
But Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said there was no specific law penalizing candidates found campaigning prematurely.
Government policy prohibits any public servant from favoring candidates seeking elective posts.
Under the Department of the Interior and Local Government law, the PNP’s authority includes enforcing all laws and ordinances relative to the protection of lives and properties; maintaining peace and order and take all necessary steps to ensure public safety; investigating and preventing crimes, effecting the arrest of criminal offenders, bringing offenders to justice and assist in their prosecution; exercising the general powers to make arrest, search and seizure in accordance with the Constitution and pertinent laws; detaining an arrested person for a period not beyond what is prescribed by law, and informing the person so detained of all his rights under the Constitution.
Albayalde’s call came after he directed his commanders to go after private armed groups and syndicates serving politicians.
Albayalde also plans to reassign police officers with relatives who are politicians to dissuade them from partisan politics. With Vito Barcelo
