PNP chief reassigns almost 3,000 cops related to candidates

The PNP headquarters in Camp Crame. (FILE PHOTO)

MANILA, Philippines —  The Philippine National Police chief, Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr., has ordered the reassignment of nearly 3,000 police officers with relatives running in the 2023 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections this October.

The PNP reviewed its personnel records and compared them with candidates’ declarations. It found that 2,956 officers have relatives up to the fourth degree of consanguinity or affinity running as candidates.

“These personnel have been issued reassignment orders to prevent any undue influence or compromise of the electoral process. They will be reassigned to non-election-related duties until the elections conclude,” the PNP explained in a statement on Wednesday.

READ: PNP eyes to temporarily reassign 327 cops with kin running for BSKE 2023

According to the PNP, reassignments are prohibited from Aug. 28 to Nov. 29. So it is coordinating these reassignments before that period with the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

Earlier, the PNP said it would also talk to candidates with close ties to its personnel to assess whether they would need to be reassigned.

Such reassignments are “normal practice,” the PNP said.

ATM