Philippine National Police (PNP) chief General Guillermo Eleazar. Senate PRIB file photo / Joseph Vidal
MANILA, Philippines — Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, chief of the Philippine National Police, on Sunday ordered all police personnel to keep their hands off politics, warning them of sanctions should they engage in political partisanship.
In a statement, Eleazar cautioned PNP personnel against meddling in politics for the duration of the election season, which officially kicked off on Oct. 1 with the filing of certificates of candidacy.
“While I am PNP chief, I will do everything in my power to make sure that the organization will be shielded from partisan politics,” he said.
Eleazar stressed that the PNP must remain apolitical to effectively ensure peaceful, orderly, and credible polls.
“I am warning all our personnel not to meddle into political activities or do things that can be misconstrued as expression of support [for]any candidate,” he said, adding that he will personally make sure such PNP personnel are held accountable.
“The loyalty of the more than 222,000-strong PNP is to the Constitution and to the Filipino people and not to any political candidate,” Eleazar stressed.