PNP to remain apolitical - Verzosa

MANILA, Philippines - Despite the impending candidacy of Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno for vice president, the Philippine National Police will remain apolitical in the May 2010 polls, PNP chief Director General Jesus Verzosa said the other day.

He said all of the 125,000-strong policemen would strictly observe the PNP mandate to prevent crime, ensure public order and enforce the law.

Puno was recommended to be the running mate of Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro, the presidential standard bearer of the Lakas-Kampi-CMD administration party in next year’s elections.

Puno is the concurrent chairman of the National Police Commission (Napolcom), the government agency with direct supervision over the PNP.

Puno himself said the PNP is a highly professional force that will not lend itself to electoral fraud.

DILG Assistant Secretary Brian Yamsuan said Puno would no longer have any control over the DILG since he would leave the department “at the proper time ahead of the official campaign period.”

Earlier, Verzosa said the PNP would not extend special assistance to former or retired police and military officials who are planning to seek elective positions in 2010 elections.

Puno welcomes Roxas’ decision to run for VP

Meanwhile, Puno welcomed Sen. Mar Roxas’ decision to vie for the vice presidency under the Liberal Party in the May 2010 elections.

He acknowledged that the tandem of Senators Noynoy Aquino and Mar Roxas is currently his and Teodoro’s closest rivals in the elections next year.   

“We welcome the announcement of Sen. Roxas to run for vice president next year,” Puno said. “The challenge now is for us to bring our message to the public and explain the program of government that we envision so that our voters would be able to make wise choices come election day.”

Puno pointed out that the campaign period is still a good four months away, with voters still generally unaware of the specific vision of government and proposed programs of each candidate.

In jest, Puno said of Roxas’ vice presidential bid: “Well, mas matangkad, mas magandang lalaki siya at mas bata (He’s taller, more good-looking and younger than me).”

But Puno believes his extensive experience in government service will prove to be his biggest asset, especially in the area of dealing with local government concerns.

Local execs from different parties support Binay

Meanwhile, local executives across the country have crossed party lines to express their support for Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay’s plan to run for vice president in the 2010 elections.

Surigao del Sur Gov. Vicente Pimentel said the local chief executives came from all parties, including the administration

Lakas-KAMPI-CMD, and span the major provinces of Pangasinan, Bohol, Laguna, Batangas, Cotabato, Surigao, Pampanga, Quezon and Camarines Sur.

“It just shows that this is not about partisan politics. My fellow local chief executives recognize the need for change and the need to empower the local government units (LGUs). We believe that Mayor Binay will help us realize this goal,” Pimentel said.

Binmaley, Pangasinan Mayor Sammy Rosario said local executives are unanimous in expressing their support for Binay.

Another key supporter, Kidapawan City Mayor Rodolfo Gantuangco,

said Binay’s 20 years’ experience as Makati mayor is proof that the “he has the political will needed in the executive branch.”

Meanwhile, Lucena City Mayor Ramon Talaga Jr. said Binay’s idea to give more power to LGUs will help localities improve the services they render to their constituents.

“Right now, some LGUs are dependent on their Internal

Revenue Allotments (IRA) for salaries and wages for their employees and for development programs – if they are lucky. We need to review the disbursement of IRA, and all other funds for that matter, to ensure that localities have enough funds to create projects for their constituents,” Talaga said.

PNP says automated elections in May 2010 a lot easier than previous polls

Meanwhile, an official of the PNP said the automated elections in May 2010 will be easier not only in getting the poll results but also in the security aspect.

PNP spokesman Senior Superintendent Leonardo Espina said an automated election is much easier to secure than the traditional manual elections.

“If the results are realized faster through automated polls, then securing poll precincts will also be faster, thus naturally easier,” Espina noted.   

In the past, the PNP handled the security in the elections to ensure not only honest, orderly and peaceful manual elections but also orderly counting of votes.

“We have been successful in securing manual elections in the past so we believe that it would be easier on our part if it is automated,” Espina pointed out. “We are prepared both for manual and automated elections.”

Verzosa said the entire PNP has been planning for the security in the 2010 elections for a long time, adding the Directorate for Intelligence is now conducting assessment on the initial updated list of possible areas of immediate concern or election hot spots in next year’s polls based on the previous elections in 2004 and 2007. With Rhodina Villanueva and Jose Rodel Clapano