Philippine National Police chief, Gen. Oscar Albayalde (left) during the leadership of PNP-10 command at Camp 1Lt. Vicente Alagar in Barangay Lapasan, Cagayan de Oro City on Friday (May 10, 2019).
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Philipping National Police (PNP) chief, Gen. Oscar Albayalde, has reminded police officers nationwide that they must not get involve in partisan politics as the mid-term elections near.
“Our constant reminder to them is to remain non-partisan, apolitical. We don’t meddle with the political affairs of anybody or in any locality for that matter,” Albayalde told reporters during the turn-over of the PNP-10 command at Camp 1Lt. Vicente Alagar in Barangay Lapasan, this city, on Friday.
The PNP chief also urged the electorate to choose those who are deserving of their votes, as reports of massive vote-buying have been noted in parts of the country a few days before the local and national elections on May 13.
“Our people should always vote wisely. Of course, we don’t sell our vote. Just because you accepted some money it doesn’t mean you have to vote those whom you received money from,” Albayalde said.
Although he maintains that the PNP is non-partisan, he appealed to the people for candidates “who are deserving, those who can actually help us improve our lives, not those who just see every three years.”
He said the PNP has been “relentless in our campaign against vote-buying.”
During Friday’s ceremony, Albayalde presided over the change of PNP-10 leadership, which will be vacated by Brig. Gen. Timoteo Pacleb.
Lt. Col. Surki Sereñas, PNP-10 spokesperson, said Pacleb will be reassigned as the director of the Directorate for Intelligence based in Camp Crame, while Santiago has left the PNP Retirement and Benefits Administration Section to take over the post.
Sereñas clarified that the reassignments of Pacleb and Santiago had the clearance of the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
“Every movement (within the PNP) will not be implemented if the Comelec has not cleared it,” he added.
Meanwhile, Sereñas said around 6,000 police personnel have already been deployed in the region’s four of five provinces--Lanao del Norte, Bukidnon, Misamis Oriental, and Misamis Occidental.
He said the police regional office has 8,206 police officers who can be deployed.
Some towns and cities of these provinces, he said, have been declared by the PNP as “category red,” which means these are considered as areas of grave concern.
He did not, however, name the places which were put under the red category. (PNA)
