PNP chief Dionardo Carlos yesterday ordered a probe on reports that campaign posters of a candidate in the May elections have been posted inside a police station, a violation of his directive to policemen and units not to participate in partisan politics.
“I have received some reports… about posters of a candidate inside a (police) station. Please do not do that,” Carlos said during the flag-raising ceremony at the PNP headquarters in Camp Crame.
Carlos said police installations should be free of campaign materials in line with the stand of the PNP to remain “apolitical and unbiased” in the national and local elections.
“I will make you explain why that poster is there,” Carlos said, referring to officials of the police station. He did not say where the police station is situated.
Carlos said the only role of policemen in the elections is to provide security to ensure the polls will be peaceful and orderly.
“So I will task the appropriate office to look into this report and I already have the photos,” Carlos said. “We’ve been clear that we do not allow campaign materials in our buildings or compounds. We should follow that (directive)…We should not make any excuses.”
Carlos said the PNP will be strict on the conduct of police during the polls to make sure cops are professional and there will be peaceful conduct of exercise.
“I am reviewing some actions in certain parts to make sure that our personnel are keeping themselves apolitical, unbiased and leveling the playing field in making sure that we are neutral,” said Carlos.
Carlos also said he and AFP chief Gen. Andres Centino are visiting the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and Soccsksargen in the coming days “because of the report of an increase in the intense political rivalry incidents in a week.
“I and the (AFP) chief of staff are going back to BARMM and Region XIII, Soccsksargen, because there are areas where we find the presence of threat groups and PAGs (private armed groups),” said Carlos.
Carlos said the PNP and AFP are holding a joint command conference next week “to make sure that we are on our timeline and our actions are all aligned in the plan to keep the peace during the elections.
“Our role here is security and keeping the peace,” said Carlos.
