MANILA, Philippines — Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Oscar Albayalde yesterday warned police officers who engage in partisan politics to stop or face sanctions.
Albayalde said the PNP as a body involved in security preparations for the elections should remain apolitical at all times.
“It’s important that the police will maintain impartiality,” he told reporters in an ambush interview during a turnover of logistical equipment to the Cavite police force in Imus City.
President Duterte earlier urged the military and police to remain neutral and refrain from supporting candidates – even his allies – as he promised an honest conduct of the 2019 midterm elections.
Albayalde said police officers who will be caught supporting politicians running in next year’s elections would be punished.
“We will not hesitate to relieve these commanders if we see them siding with candidates,” he stressed.
Albayalde also directed police commanders to continue with their internal security and law enforcement operations against communist rebels despite the truce being offered by the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP).
The CPP and its armed component the New People’s Army (NPA) declared a unilateral ceasefire from Dec. 24 to 26 and from Dec. 31 to Jan. 1, 2019 in observance of the yuletide season.
For Albayalde, it is important to maintain a proactive stance as the rebels lack sincerity and usually take advantage of a ceasefire to strengthen their forces and to extort money or amass firearms.
“We gave directive to the regions to intensify their police operations, internal security operations and target hardening measures,” he said.
The government has accused the NPA of extorting money from candidates in the guise of permit to campaign fees in areas where rebels have control.
Albayalde stressed the importance of localized peace talks which he said have convinced rebels to surrender and return to the fold of the government.
He cited the recent surrender of 12 rebels and turnover of 21 high-powered firearms in Mindanao as proof of the strategy’s effectiveness.
“We have a whole-of-government approach to end this insurgency,” Albayalde added.