PRO 7 to Transfer 141 Cops with Relatives Running for Election to Other Units

The Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 will transfer to other units 141 police officers who have relatives running for office in the May 2016 elections.

Chief Superintendent Prudencio Tom Bañas, PRO 7 director, said the officers will be reassigned to prevent them from getting involved in any politics-related conflict.

“We will try to make it a point not to assign them in the areas where they might influence the electoral process,” he said.

“This is also for their own security,” Banas said.

The Regional Personnel and Human Resources Development Division (RPHRDD) 7 said 44 personnel of the Cebu Provincial Police Office will be transferred to other units.

The Bohol Provincial Police Office has 36 officers whose relatives are running in the elections; the Negros Oriental Provincial Police Office has 33; Regional Public Safety Battalion 7 has 13; Siquijor Provincial Police Officer, 13; Mandaue City Police Office, 3; and Cebu City Police Office, 3.

No personnel from the Lapu-Lapu City Police Office have relatives who are seeking public offices next year.

Bañas said they will be reassigned before Jan. 10, which is the start of the gun ban implementation by the Commission on Elections and will return to their mother units after the gun ban is lifted on June 8 next year.

Banas also said the police officers can vote but they cannot publicly support politicians.

Bañas said an officer can be dismissed from service if he is proven guilty of campaigning for a politician. (PNA) CTB/EB/RSM