Cops assigned to
local officials during poll period must be in uniform, Comelec
reiterates
By
Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
May 3, 2013
TACLOBAN CITY – The
Commission on Elections reiterated that all policemen detailed to
local officials as protective security personnel during the election
period must always be in uniform.
Lawyer Veronico Petalcorin
Comelec Region 8 acting Director made the reminder during a
recently-held media interaction at the PIA Regional Office.
Petalcorin added that only
incumbent lawmakers and governors are allowed to have police and
military security escorts during the 2013 election period.
He said this is contained in
Comelec Resolution 96-08 which provides that incumbent governors and
congressmen are allowed two PNP/military security details and two more
security guards.
He said those running for
governor and congressman who are not incumbents are not entitled to
police or military bodyguards.
Petalcorin said that
Republic Act 7166 otherwise known as Synchronized National and Local
Elections and For Electoral Reforms provides that police personnel
assigned to local officials should be uniformed, their name, rank and
serial number written legibly and visible at all times.
Local elective officials
have to ensure that their official police security escorts are in
their prescribed uniform in order to avoid outright termination of the
protective security services and possible administrative and criminal
charges against the PNP personnel, Petalcorin added.
Incumbent vice governors and
local officials seeking re-election or running for other elective
positions and candidates for the 2013 elections can have only two blue
guards for security.
However, even these have to
pass through the Comelec, with details like firearms being carried by
the blue guards as well as photos of their uniforms, Atty. Petalcorin
said.
He added that blue guards
who will be detailed as security of candidates will have to present
accreditation that they have passed VIP protection training course.
Moreover, Petalcorin
stressed that barangay officials, including government employees, are
not allowed to take partisan political activities in this election.
He called on the people to
report to the Comelec and its deputies any barangay official or
government employee undertaking partisan political activity so that
they can be charged for violation of the election code.