CEBU CITY – More than 100 policemen in Central Visayas with relatives running for elective positions next year will be reassigned to city or provincial offices.
The Police Regional Office-Central Visayas (PRO-7) said that most of the 128 policemen who are set to be reassigned are from the Bohol Provincial Police Office with 71.
Police Lt. Col. Gerard Ace Pelare, spokesperson of PRO-7 chief Police Brig. Gen. Anthony Aberin, said also set to be transferred are 39 policemen from the Cebu Police Provincial Office, 14 from Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office, and one each from Mandaue, Siquijor, Cebu City, and Regional Mobile Force Battalion.
No policeman from Lapu-Lapu City will be transferred.
Pelare said the number could still change after further review.
"That's the list after the initial inventory that was conducted by city and provincial offices. An order was already issued to the concerned police officers but we cannot say yet that the list is already final as a review will still be conducted," said Pelare.
Pelare said the reassignment is just temporary as the affected personnel will return to their original assignments after the elections.
He said reassignment during election is a usual process meant to prevent police officers from influencing the conduct of an election in a certain area where they have relatives who are candidates.
“There’s nothing new about this because this has been always the policy the PNP is adopting pursuant to our position that we should be politically neutral," said Pelare.
Pelare said there are about 1,600 policemen nationwide who will be affected by the policy.
Aside from non-commissioned officers, the PRO-7 will also relieve station commanders who have been staying in their positions for two years.