Cebu policemen told: No Tiktok

CEBU, Philippines —  Police officers in Cebu Province are discouraged from posting on Tiktok, especially dancing with their police uniform on.

“I actually discouraged my personnel from doing that at saka, alam naman ng lahat na may band kami sa CPPO pero wala kaming dance troupe, and I am personally against sa pag sayaw-sayaw ng mga police,” said Col. Engelbert Soriano, director of Cebu Provincial Police Office.

Soriano issued the statement following a report from Manila about a police personnel slapped with administrative sanction for posting on Tiktok a dance video while wearing a police uniform.

According to Soriano, police personnel are not prohibited from doing dance performances but limited to cultural presentation during special events and not for social media.

“Pero yung gawin nila na wala namang activity, gaya ng magtiktok, hindi po namin yun itotolerate dito sa CPPO,” said Soriano.

Posting of videos on social media using applications like Tiktok while on-duty and wearing police uniform is prohibited under a memorandum issued in October 2020 by then PNP Chief General Camilo Cascolan.

Soriano said the memorandum has not been revoked and remains effective. He said he personally agree on the policy since it is demeaning to see a police officer wearing his/her uniform while dancing on social media.

“Parang nakakahiya,” Soriano said. — FPL (FREEMAN)