ILOILO City – The Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) has issued anew a stern warning to all police officers in the region against serving political figures in the May 12 midterm elections.
Brigadier General Jack Wanky, PRO-6 director, said that moonlighting to political candidates is not allowed, adding that any policeman who provides unauthorized security for politicians and exhibits partisan politics will be punished.
Wanky said his office is closely monitoring the activity of his men.
He ordered all police chiefs and unit commanders to also check their men from time to time.
“As what I have told my men, they should remain neutral and not provide security to political candidates without clearance or permission from the Commission on Elections (Comelec),” he said.
The warning comes after two members of the Philippine Cost Guard (PCG) were caught securing a local candidate with no authorization from the Comelec.
The two PCG personnel were identified as Apprentice Seaman Marvin Parpan, 31, of Dipolog City, and Seaman Second Class Rico Maylan, 27, from Negros Oriental. They were both assigned at PCG Romblon.
They were caught carrying a short firearm while wearing civilian clothes while securing Margarita Cacho from Sibunag, Guimaras, who was the subject of a police operation for swindling.
The said PCG personnel would be facing charges for violation of Republic Act 10591 in relation to the Comelec gun ban./PN
