THE PNP yesterday said some 327 policemen are likely to be reassigned to other areas during the election period for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) because they have relatives who will run in the local polls in their present places of assignment.
In a press briefing in Camp Crame, PNP spokesman Col. Jean Fajardo said the number was culled from a survey conducted by PNP units throughout the country.
“Initially, based on our survey, there are around 327 PNP personnel who have relatives who are possibly running in the coming elections,” said Fajardo.
Fajardo said the number may change when the PNP gets a clearer picture of the election scenario when the filing of candidacy is already over.
The filing of certificates of candidacy (COCs) for the barangay and youth elections will be from August 28 to September 2.
“That’s the only time we can consider them (relatives of the policemen) as candidates. This figure (327) may change, depending on the filing of the COCs,” she said.
Fajardo said it is normal for policemen to be reassigned to another area if they have relatives running for an elective post in an area where they are assigned to prevent them from influencing the result of the elections.
“This is not the first time we are doing this. Whenever there are elections, our policemen are expecting that as a matter of policy, they are going to be temporarily reassigned so they won’t be accused of using their posts to influence the result of the election in their areas,” she said.
Meanwhile, Fajardo said the PNP is continuing the validation and assessment of possible threats in connection with the BSKE.
“As of now, we have not monitored any but like I said, our threat assessment is continuing. The political climate may change once the filing of candidacies starts,” she said.
She said the PNP is looking at 27 “Red” category areas or critical areas, which will be placed under the control of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) once validated. Some of these areas are in Western Visayas, Central Visayas and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
