PNP: Cops caught removing campaign materials will be asked to explain

Operation Baklas

MANILA, Philippines — Police officers who were caught on video removing illegal campaign posters will be asked to explain along with their immediate supervisors for possible violation of guidelines, the Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesperson said Friday.

Col. Jean Fajardo said those police officers and their superiors may face administrative complaints if the PNP’s investigation shows they violated existing policies.

“Yung mga nakuhanan po ng video na actual na nagtatanggal ay pagpapaliwanagin pati ‘yung kanilang mga immediate supervisor. At ‘pag napatunayan po na nagkaroon ng paglabag sa mga umiiral na guidelines pati na sa mga PNP policy, pwede po sila sampahan ng kasong administrative at ma-penalize po pati ‘yung mga immediate supervisors,” Fajardo said over Teleradyo.

(Those who were caught in a video removing campaign materials will be asked to explain, including their immediate supervisors. And if they are proven to have violated prevailing guidelines and PNP policy, administrative cases may be filed against them and they may be penalized along with their immediate supervisors.)

READ: ‘Oplan Baklas’ slammed for ‘abuse’; Comelec firm

According to Fajardo, the main and only participation of PNP members in the drive against illegal campaign materials is to provide security and not to do the actual removal of illegal campaign posters or banners, signs, etc.

“Dapat po talaga ay hindi po nagpaparticipate ang any member ng PNP po sa pagbabaklas po at pagtanggal ng mga illegal po na campaign materials. Dapat po ang kanilang participation ay limited lang po sa pagpoprovide ng security sa naatasang magbaklas ng campaign materials,” she added.

(Any member of PNP should not actually participate in the removal of illegal campaign materials. Their participation should be limited to just providing security to those tasked to remove such campaign materials.)

Complaints about the police’s role in the Commission on Elections’ “Operation Baklas” emerged after police officers in Santiago City, Isabela province have been caught on video taking down campaign materials for Vice President Leni Robredo, who is running for president in the May polls, even if the posters were placed inside a private property.

Robredo’s election lawyer Romulo Macalintal condemned the incident, pointing out that it is trespassing and a search or seizure order should have been presented before police officers went inside the private premises.

READ: Macalintal to private property owners hit by ‘Oplan Baklas’: Block entry, file cases

The camp of Robredo said they are also considering filing a case against the Comelec.

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