ILOILO City – In Western Visayas, 136 members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) have relatives in their areas of assignment running for local elective posts this May 9, 2022 elections.
They were relieved from their posts and given faraway assignments.
“We want to make sure our police personnel remain non-partisan,” said Police Brigadier General Flynn Dongbo, director of the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6).
Here’s the breakdown of these relieved policemen by area:
* Aklan – 24
* Capiz – 23
* Antique – 20
* Guimaras – 6
* Iloilo province – 36
* Negros Occidental – 27
Their transfer to other areas would prevent them from possibly influencing the outcome of the elections in favor of their relatives, said Dongbo.
“I’m warning my men across the region. Remain apolitical. Ayaw kong marinig na nakikialam kayo sa relatives ninyo na kandidato. We have to remain committed to our job,” he added.
Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Lieutenant General Dionardo Carlos assured the public that they would remain professional and non-partisan in the 2022 elections.
“We will stand on neutral ground. We’re making all the necessary preparations to achieve that,” said Carlos.
He added: “Commanders on the ground that are familiar already with the candidates in their area, we are going to move them to other posts.”
On Jan. 8, five police provincial directors in Western Visayas were relieved from their posts.
“During election time, police officials serving their posts for over a year are relieved,” explained Dongbo.
The relieved police directors were the following:
* Iloilo Police Provincial Office’s (IPPO) Police Colonel Gilbert Gorero – to be replaced by Police Colonel Adrian Acollador, chief of the Regional Operations Division, PRO-6
* Guimaras Police Provincial Office’s (GPPO) Police Colonel Pablito Asmod – to be replaced by Police Colonel Richard Baluis, chief of the Comptrollership Division, PRO-6
* Antique Police Provincial Office’s (APPO) Police Colonel Roy Parena – to be replaced by Police Colonel Alexander Mariano from Camp Crame
* Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office’s (NOPPO) Police Colonel Romy Palgue – to be replaced by Police Colonel Leo Pamitan from Camp Crame
* Capiz Police Provincial Office’s (CPPO) Police Colonel Laudemar Llaneta – to be replaced by Police Colonel Winston De Belen, former chief of the PRO-6 Highway Patrol Group (HPG)
Except for Llaneta who began serving the CPPO just six months ago, the rest these police provincial directors have been serving their posts for over a year already.
Llaneta, however, was not confirmed by Capiz’s Gov. Estevan Evan Contreras as a full-fledged police director of the province./PN
