Albayalde prohibits use of cops’ photos as campaign material

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine National Police (PNP) chief General Oscar Albayalde on Monday warned politicians against using photos and videos of PNP personnel as campaign material for the midterm polls.

Albayalde said that he accommodates photo opportunities with strangers, provided that the images are “strictly for personal purposes or posterity and goodwill.”

“I disclaim, however, the unwarranted use, if any, of my edited pictures in memes and social media messages and postings with political undertones and themes that suggest partisan predisposition upon my person and the office that I represent,” he said in a press briefing at Camp Crame.

“I, therefore, detach myself from any use of my pictures in non-PNP related correspondence, public announcements, advertisement or commercial and political endorsement,” he said.

“For that matter, I humbly discourage political parties and candidates from using pictures and videos of any PNP personnel for campaign materials and political messages that could bring misrepresentation of a PNP officer endorsing a candidate or a party,” he added.

Albayalde said the PNP remains faithful to its apolitical and non-partisan character as a law enforcement agency. /ee