PNP chief Gen. Oscar Albayalde
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) remains to be non-partisan and apolitical if its chief Gen. Oscar Albayalde is to be believed.
This, amid reports that officers from the Manila Police District (MPD) distributed materials on election day, near polling precincts where party-list group Bayan Muna was tagged as supporters of communist rebels.
“Remember, ang directive natin sa PNP is always remain non-partisan and apolitical. We do not meddle with the political exercise of anybody, or in any area,” Albayalde told reporters in a press briefing on Monday night.
Earlier, Bayan Muna chair Neri Colmenares and Rep. Carlos Zarate said that reports from election watchdog Kontra Daya showed policemen giving pamphlets near the Geronimo Elementary School in Sampaloc, Manila.
The publication allegedly discredited the party-list and supposedly promoted administration-backed senatorial candidate Bong Go.
READ: Bayan Muna slams police for red-tagging activity on election day
On micro-blogging site Twitter, netizens asked the PNP’s Police Community Relations Group (PCRG) about the issue.
Hello @pnphotline . Police distributing news papers, red tagging Bayan Muna party-list as NPA supporters . Check the thread #electionday #halalan2019 #phvote #Eleksyon2019 https://t.co/xjeayolQlw
— Noemi L. Dado (@momblogger) May 13, 2019
If it is not election related, why are you doing it on election day? If it doesn't matter that it's election day, why can't you NOT do it today? #Halalan2019 #Eleksyon2019 #PHVote #KontraDaya2019
— katrinastuartsantiago (@radikalchick) May 13, 2019
Ang kaibahan: hindi naman sa malls, MRT, terminals, bumuboto ang mga tao. Also: Kapag election day BAWAL ang distribution ng materials that campaign (whether positively or negatively) for candidates. Which is what your publication does. @jabjimenez @COMELEC
— katrinastuartsantiago (@radikalchick) May 13, 2019
Both PNP and PCRG’s official Twitter accounts replied that the newspapers, entitled “Pulis Serbis Balita” is a PNP-sanctioned publication.
Mam we will verify again. They are distributing PNP newspapers, but no publication of red tagging alleged.
— PNP Tweets (@PNPhotline) May 13, 2019
it's happening everyday maam. we are regularly distribute that tabloids to all places of convergence.
— PCADG Northern Mindanao (@PCADGNorMin) May 13, 2019
We do it everyday. Mostly on places where people converge. It's not a campaign material. Have you seen it mam?
— PNP Tweets (@PNPhotline) May 13, 2019
“They are distributing PNP newspapers, but no publication of red-tagging alleged,” PNP Tweets said. “We do it every day, mostly on places where people converge.”
“It’s happening everyday ma’am. We are (sic) regularly distribute that tabloids to all places of convergence,” PCRG added.
Albayalde assured that they will verify the issue that the police officers were involved in electioneering. He also urged Bayan Muna to file charges against the police officers as it is their right.
“We will look into that,” he explained.
“Palagi namang ganyan ang ginagawa nila. They can file the charges, everytime na merong sinasabi, always file charges. That’s their right, we respect their right,” he said.
In a link provided at the exchange of tweets — which redirects to the Facebook page of a Global PCR (Police Community Relations) — photo versions of Pulis Serbis Balita showed Albayalde’s name in one editorial column and in the paper’s masthead.
Albayalde was identified as chairman of the editorial board, while Police Community Relations (PCR) Chief Maj. Gen. Benigno Durana was the editorial consultant. PCRG Director Brig. Gen. Rhodel Sermonia was the editor-in-chief.