• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
A total of 269 police officers assigned in various city and police stations in Negros Occidental who have relatives running in the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE) on October 30, have been temporarily reassigned outside their areas of responsibility.
PCapt. Judesses Catalogo, spokesperson of the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office, yesterday said that this was in compliance with the order of the Commission on Elections.
PCol. Leo Pamittan, provincial police director of Negros Occidental, earlier ordered an inventory of all police officers who have relatives joining the BSKE 2023 electoral process.
According to the PNP, the temporary reassignment of police officers with relatives running for elective posts is a normal process in the police organization, to allay fears that the police would influence the outcome of the elections.
Catalogo said the 269 police officers will be returned to their previous assignments after the election period.
Pamittan said in close coordination with the Philippine Army and other force multipliers, they have enough forces to maintain peace and order in polling areas during the Oct. 30 elections.
As of September 11, the police have accounted for 11 violators of the Comelec gun ban.
Pamittan also maintained that there are no active Private Armed Groups in Negros Occidental.
The Comelec has yet to act on the recommendation of the Provincial Joint Security Coordinating Center to classify 55 barangays in Negros Occidental as election areas of concern, due to sightings of armed rebels.*
