Napolcom probes 20 Eastern Visayas cops for partisan socmed posts
TACLOBAN CITY — The National Police Commission (Napolcom) has renewed its warning to police officers against engaging in partisan political activities on social media, revealing that about 20 police personnel in Eastern Visayas are currently under investigation for posts deemed to favor political figures.
Lawyer Risty Sibay, Napolcom regional director for Eastern Visayas, said Tuesday that the agency continues to monitor the online activities of police personnel to ensure they remain politically neutral, as required by law.
“We are constantly reminding our police personnel of their role as law enforcement officers and to remain neutral,” Sibay said in an interview.
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The reminder comes amid heightened political tensions nationwide, with politicians and their supporters increasingly turning to social media platforms to advance their causes and influence public opinion.
Sibay said Napolcom has a monitoring team tasked with reviewing the social media accounts of police personnel for posts that may be construed as political campaigning or endorsements.
“There is a fine line between freedom of expression and advocating for a particular politician,” he said. “Once a post crosses that line and can be considered politicking, it becomes a different matter.”
According to Sibay, about 20 police personnel in Eastern Visayas are being investigated for alleged partisan activities on social media. Four of the cases have already been elevated to Napolcom’s central office for final evaluation and disposition.
Most of those being investigated are lower-ranking personnel, including police corporals, he added.
Police officers are prohibited from engaging in partisan political activities under civil service and police regulations, which require members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) to remain politically neutral while in government service.
Sibay said officers found guilty of violating the rules could face administrative sanctions ranging from suspension to dismissal from service, depending on the gravity of the offense.
“But of course, we will always observe due process,” he said.
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Meanwhile, the Police Regional Office in Eastern Visayas said it has not detected any destabilization activities in the region despite the political tensions being experienced in other parts of the country.
“We have not monitored any such thing in the region. Eastern Visayas remains peaceful so far,” said Lt. Col. Analiza Armeza, regional police information officer, in a separate interview./coa
