With the campaign period for national seats in the May 2025 midterm elections in full-swing, police officers found to be engaging in partisan politics “will be prosecuted,’’ Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla warned Saturday, Feb. 22.
In a statement, Remulla vowed that he will not hesitate in filing charges against the erring cops, but, at the same time, assured that “due process of law is observed.’’
“You have seen my record. I have a very low tolerance for malfeasance lalong-lalo na sa PNP (Philippine National Police) (especially with the PNP),” Remulla said.
Stressing his point, Remulla recalled the DILG’s efforts in filing cases against rogue members of the PNP tagged in the 990-kilo drug haul in Manila in 2022.
“Yung mga kaso na 'yan ni-review ko kaagad at ngayon nakakulong na sila (I immediately reviewed those cases and now they are in jail), so I will not hesitate,” Remulla stressed.
Remulla also expressed full backing to the “Kontra Bigay” campaign spearheaded by the Commission on Elections (Comelec), saying that this should go hand in hand with a Kontra Tanggap drive.
“Dalawa dapat ‘yan eh, campaign Kontra Bigay at campaign Kontra Tanggap. Two sides ‘yan eh. Dapat magkasama ‘yun (There should be twin moves, Kontra Bigay and Kontra Tanggap campaigns. There are two sides. They should go hand and hand),’’ Remulla noted.
The DILG chief insisted not believing “in vote-buying’’ even during his time as a Cavite local official.
“I don’t believe in vote buying either, it's never been necessary sa province namin (in our province) but that is a cultural phenomenon that has to be addressed nationally,” Remulla continued.