PNP Director for Operations Maj. Gen. Valeriano de Leon yesterday told police commanders to refocus their attention to the implementation of COVID-19 health protocols and other law enforcement activities because the PNP’s election-related duties are almost over.
“With the proclamation of most of the winners in the May 9 elections, the PNP’s election duty is practically over,” De Leon said in a memorandum to ground commanders of the PNP.
The PNP, along with the Armed Forces, was deputized by the Commission on Elections to perform election-related duties, including during the polls last May 9.
Police will continue to be vigilant during the remainder of the election period, which started last January 9 and will end on June 8. The PNP is tasked to enforce the election gun ban during the period.
The PNP also needs to secure special elections in 12 barangays in Tubaran, Lanao del Sur on May 24. Election officials declared a failure of elections in these barangays due to poll-related violent incidents.
“We should now slowly shift to normal law enforcement activities, including enforcing the health safety protocols under Alert Level 1 status as mandated by the IATF (Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases),” said De Leon.
De Leon said the threat of COVID-19 is not yet over, adding there is a need for the PNP to help to prevent the spread of the disease.
“This is why the PNP continues to do everything it can to assist the government in suppressing its spread, which may result in another lockdown,” said De Leon.
“We are constantly urging the public to always observe the minimum standards of health protocols, and even if practically everyone has been completely vaccinated and boosted, we cannot be complacent about the virus,” he added.
