PNP reassigns 1,308 cops with relatives running in 2025 elections

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine National Police (PNP) said on Thursday that it has reassigned 1,308 out of 1,586 officers who declared that they have relatives running in the 2025 national and local elections.

“We received a report from the DPRM (Directorate for Personnel and Records Management) that, as of yesterday, based on the inventory, 1,586 PNP personnel have declared that they have relatives, up to the fourth degree of consanguinity or affinity, who will be running in next year’s elections,” PNP spokesperson BGen. Jean Fajardo said in a mix of Filipino and English.

“Out of the 1,586, 1,308 have been given relief orders, meaning they’ve been removed from their places of assignment and temporarily transferred to other units until the election period ends. The remaining orders will be released, probably, if not tomorrow, early next week,” she added.

PNP Chief Gen. Rommel Marbil previously said it was “only right to remove or reassign police officers from areas where their relatives will run for the upcoming polls.”

READ: PNP to reassign cops with relatives running in the 2025 elections

“This policy ay matagal nang iniimplement ng PNP. Every time tayo ay sasailalim sa electoral process, yung mga pulis natin na may tatakbong kaanak ay inaalis sa places of assignment nila or kung saan tatakbo ‘yung kanilang mga kaanak to preclude any notion na magagamit ang kanilang pagiging pulis to influence yung darating na election,” Fajardo said.

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(This policy has long been implemented by the PNP. Every time we undergo the electoral process, police who have relatives running are removed from their places of assignment or from where their relatives are running to preclude any notion that their position will be used to influence the upcoming election.)

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PNP last reassigned 2,800 officers during the October 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections.

READ: PNP to reassign around 2,800 cops related to BSKE candidates 

“We remain non-partisan and impartial in the upcoming election,” Fajardo added.

READ: Comelec releases schedule for 2025 elections

The election period will officially begin on January 12, 2025, and end on June 11, 2025.