PRO-8 men warned vs siding with politicians

PALO, LEYTE, Philippines – Director General Ricardo Marquez, chief of the Philippine National Police, yesterday issued to Police Regional Office-8 officials and members against taking sides with any politicians in the region during the 2016 elections.

The police must focus instead on operations and ensure peace and order, especially in areas with intense polticial rivalry that threatens the breakout of violence during the election period, Marquez said.

Speaking before the local media here, Marquez reiterated his message during the 114th PNP Service anniversary celebration at the PRO-8 headquarters, in which he assured the public that any police officer who will be involved in partisan politics will be sanctioned immediately and accordingly relieved from his or her post.

Marquez said that, as already emphasized by President Benigno Aquino III in two occasions at Camp Crame, the Filipino are his “boss,” thus asking policemen to be apolitical.

"Hindi natin papayagan ang ating mga kawani at kapolisan na makisali sa usaping pampolitikal.” We’ll make sure that our men will shun themselves from any political issues," Marquez said.

The PNP top official said that if a policeman is reported to have a relative (up to the 4th degree of consanguinity) running for an elective position, he or she will be temporarily relieved from his present post and reassigned to another police station.

The implementation of these rules will start as soon as the election period officially starts, said Marquez. There will also be validation of reports from various election watchdogs about a policeman involved with some politicians, he told The FREEMAN.

Marquez meanwhile dismissed reports that Malacañang and the Office of the Interior and Local Government Secretary, is currently pressuring him to find ways for Mar Roxas’ victory in the presidential race.

There was never any pressure on this matter and, even if the PNP is under the DILG supervision, the police force will abide with the rule of law, he said.

The Leyte trip was the first command visit of Maquez since his appointment as PNP chief. One of the activities in his itinerary was the turnover of ten patrol cars to police units in the region that will boost police visibility in this area.