BACOLOD CITY (PIA) — The Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOCPPO) has reassigned some 33 cops with relatives vying for posts in the National and Local Elections (NLE) 2025.
NOCPPO information officer PCapt. Judesses Catalogo, in a radio interview, said the temporary transfer of police officers from their original place of assignment to other areas is necessary to avoid conflict of interest in the execution of their official functions.
“We are upholding the practice of neutrality and non-partisanship. After nag-file sang candidacy ang election aspirants last October 2024, immediately naghiwat sang inventory sang personnel nga may relatives nga nagapadalagan,” Catalogo noted.
(We are upholding the practice of neutrality and non-partisanship. After election aspirants filed their certificates of candidacy in October 2024, an inventory of personnel with relatives running for office was immediately done.)
He added that involved in this initiative are all PNP personnel with relatives up to the fourth degree of consanguinity (relationship by blood) or affinity (relationship by marriage) who are running for public office.
Fourth-degree relatives extend to as far as great aunts/uncles, first cousins, grandnephews/nieces, aunts/uncles-in-law, great grandparents-in-law, aunts/uncles-in-law, first cousins-in-law, and great-grandchildren-in-law, among others.
“This shall not hamper their services and instead promote the doctrine of neutrality within the Philippine National Police (PNP),” Catalogo added, noting that the reassignment seeks to deter police power and connections to influence the elections.
Meanwhile, administrative sanctions await officers who failed to declare relatives running for office and will use their position and authority as police.
The officers reassigned to other areas will then be returned to their original posts after the elections. (BPS/PIA Negros Occidental)
