PNP reassigns over 1,300 cops with kin running in May 2025 polls

The Philippine National Police (PNP) said on Thursday that 1,308 out of 1,586 police personnel with relatives who filed their candidacies in next year’s midterm elections have been reassigned to avoid partisanship.

“As of yesterday, based on inventory, nasa 1,586 yung PNP personnel na nag-declare po na mayroon po silang mga kaanak na up to fourth degree of consanguinity and affinity na tatakbo po sa darating na election sa susunod na taon po,” said PNP spokesperson P/Brigadier General Jean Fajardo in a press briefing.

(As of yesterday, based on the inventory, there are so far 1,586 PNP personnel who declared they have relatives up to fourth degree of consanguinity and affinity who will run in the upcoming elections next year.)

“Out of the 1,586 nasa 1,308 ang may relief orders, meaning naalis na po sila sa kanilang places of assignment at pansamantalang tinransfer po sa ibang units until matapos po yung election period.”

(Out of the 1,586, 1,308 were already issued with relief orders or have been reassigned temporarily to other units until the end of the election period.)

Among the regional offices, PNP said Region 9 has the highest number of personnel who declared having kin running in the May 2025 polls, with 144. It was followed by the Bangsamoro Region with 122 cops and Region 6 with 118 police officers.

The reassignment is to avoid possible use of police power and connections by the relatives to influence the elections.

“Kung may hindi magde-declare at mapapatunanayan na mayroon silang kamag-anak na tatakbo, and worse gagamiting nila yung authority nila bilang pulis, ay definitely they will face an administrative sanction to include probably dismissal from the service po,” Fajardo warned.

(If someone does not declare or we find out that they really have relatives running next year, and worse, they will use their authority as police, they will definitely face an administrative sanction that would probably include dismissal from service.)

The midterm elections will be held on May 12, 2025.—RF, GMA Integrated News