Napolcom warns cops vs partisan socmed posts
NAPLOCOM.GOV.PH
TACLOBAN CITY, LEYTE, Philippines — The National Police Commission (Napolcom) in Eastern Visayas has warned police officers about engaging in partisan social media posts.
Lawyer Risty Sibay, Napolcom regional director for Eastern Visayas, said that police officers are prohibited from engaging in partisan political activities under existing laws and regulations.
“The ethical conduct of the PNP is governed by Republic Act No. 6713 and supplemented by the PNP Ethical Doctrine Manual. It is clear in these guidelines that PNP personnel should remain nonpartisan,” he said.
READ: Napolcom probes 20 Eastern Visayas cops for partisan socmed posts
Republic Act No. 6713, or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, requires government workers to uphold political neutrality, professionalism, and integrity in public service.
Violations of these standards may result in administrative sanctions, including suspension, demotion, or dismissal from service, depending on the gravity of the offense.
READ: PNP to cop-vloggers: Stay neutral as Dela Rosa – ICC issue simmers
Sibay clarified that while he is issuing the warning, the Napolcom in the region is not currently investigating any police personnel for alleged partisan social media posts. He denied earlier reports suggesting that 20 police officers were being monitored for political activity online.
Sibay said the commission routinely monitors the social media activities of Philippine National Police (PNP) personnel as part of its oversight functions, but stressed that no complaints involving partisan political posts have been recorded so far.
“Based on our records, we have not received any complaints against PNP members who are supposedly involved in partisan politics,” Sibay said in an interview on Thursday, June 4. “We are monitoring social media posts by our PNP personnel, but not necessarily because of partisan politics.”
The clarification comes amid heightened political tensions in the country, where public officials and government employees have faced increased scrutiny over their social media activities and possible political affiliations.
Sibay explained that social media monitoring forms part of Napolcom’s mandate to investigate police irregularities, noting that online platforms have increasingly become sources of information and complaints against law enforcement personnel.
While no cases involving partisan political activity have been reported, Sibay said Napolcom is currently handling administrative complaints against several police personnel for alleged offenses ranging from grave misconduct to neglect of duty.
According to Sibay, the regional office received 33 complaints during the last semester, eight of which have progressed into formal cases and are now under evaluation.
“The Napolcom is by law mandated to monitor and investigate police irregularities and, under our standard procedure, we are also tasked to monitor social media because one of the sources of information or complaints nowadays is social media,” he said.
Sibay also emphasized that police personnel facing complaints are afforded due process during investigations, with cases evaluated based on evidence gathered by the commission.
The issue surfaced after questions were raised regarding whether Napolcom had detected police officers posting content with political undertones on social media amid the country’s increasingly polarized political environment. /cb
