MANILA, Philippines – Philippine National Police Director General Jesus Verzosa has warned all local government officials against using policemen for their private armies in the coming elections, or lose authority over them like what happened to the local executives in Maguindanao province.

Verzosa said that the Maguindanao incident showed local officials how “not to abuse this authority by using the local police force in partisan political activity.”

"As Chief PNP and ex-officio Commissioner of Napolcom, I will not hesitate to recommend the same withdrawal of deputation against any provincial governor or city and municipal mayor who will abuse their authority as deputized Napolcom representatives," Verzosa said in a statement Tuesday.

The massacre in Maguindanao last November 23 that left 57 people dead, including women and journalists, has been linked to Datu Unsay Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr., son of Ampatuan Sr. and Maguindanao governor. The son is now detained at the National Bureau of Investigation after he surrendered to authorities last week. He and his family, a powerful clan in Maguindanao, have denied the allegation.

Following the killings, the National Police Commission en banc passed Resolution No.2009-610 on November 26 withdrawing the deputation of the provincial governor and all municipal mayors of the province of Maguindanao as representatives of Napolcom.

In this resolution, Napolcom found “imperative need to withdraw the deputation of the Governor and Mayors of Maguindanao to ensure that law enforcement authorities in the area can effectively contain the explosive situation and immediately pursue and conduct a massive manhunt, effect the arrests and investigation of the perpetrators and employ preemptive measures to prevent the escalation of violence and lawlessness in the province of Maguindanao."

With this withdrawal of deputation, the Napolcom has assumed the responsibility to administer and control local police units.

Verzosa said the withdrawal of deputation in Maguindanao was not the first time that happened. In 2005, local government executives in Abra were stripped of their authority to supervise and command local police forces as deputized Napolcom representatives due to a wave of political killings.