PNP set to tackle challenges of campaign period guidelines amid pandemic

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) admitted on Tuesday that it is a challenging task to impose the Commission on Elections’ (Comelec) campaign period guidelines for the May 9 elections amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

“May challenge because of the current situation that’s why part po ng team namin ‘yung DOH (Department of Health). Kami po, as deputized agency of the Comelec, we get guidance also from the DOH kaya these are all integrated para po du’n sa conduct of ‘yung gan’tong mga activity,” PNP chief General Dionardo Carlos said on CNN Philippines’ The Source.

(There is a challenge because of the current situation that’s why the DOH is part of our team. We, as a deputized agency of the Comelec, get guidance also from the DOH so these are all integrated for the conduct of these activities.)

“Kakayanin po natin, hindi po kami tumitingin du’n sa problema. Humahanap po kami ng solusyon para mag-tuloy-tuloy po ‘yung ating gawain. Sabi ko nga, this is the new normal, we work with the new normal,” he added.

(We will do it, we are not looking at the problem. We are looking for solutions to fulfill our duties. This is the new normal, we work with the new normal.)

Carlos said that they will have an assessment meeting on February 16 to see if adjustments should be made in the implementation of the Comelec guidelines.

“We discussed it already in the past two PNP command conferences and we will have another assessment by February 16 para tuloy-tuloy po ‘yung amin pong adjustment if we need to adjust so logistic, ‘yun pong mga available manpower, and ‘yung aming mobility, and communication system to be utilized by the security personnel or PNP personnel to provide the security for the candidates during their campaign,” he said.

(We discussed it already in the past two PNP command conferences and we will have another assessment by February 16 so that our adjustments will be continuous if we need to adjust our logistic, available manpower, mobility, and communication system to be utilized by the security personnel or PNP personnel to provide the security for the candidates during their campaign.)

Under Comelec guidelines, candidates cannot kiss, shake hands, and take a selfie with supporters, among other non-contact measures, to prevent the transmission of COVID-19.

The Comelec likewise said that wearing of face shield is required for in-person campaign sorties.

February 8 is the start of the campaign period candidates of national positions while March 25 is the start of the campaign period for candidates vying for local posts.

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