Camp BGen Efigenio C Navarro, Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro-Prior to January 9, 2022, unit commanders in Police Regional Office MIMAROPA, under the leadership of its Regional Director, Police Brigadier General SIDNEY SULTAN HERNIA, were reshuffled, in line with the stand of the Philippine National Police that all its personnel must remain non-partisan during elections.

As an election offense, Section 261 (h) of the Omnibus Election Code (Batas Pambansa Blg. 881) provides that “Any public official who makes or causes any transfer or detail whatever of any officer or employee in the civil service including public school teachers, within the election period except upon prior approval of the Commission.” Thus, the revamp of unit commanders was made prior to the election period which runs from January 9 to June 8, 2022.

As a matter of policy of the PNP, unit commanders like provincial directors, battalion commander, company commanders, and chiefs of police who have rendered at least one year service in their respective localities shall be relieved to avoid close association with the election candidates in relation to the 2022 National and Local Elections.

Those personnel with relatives seeking for elective positions up to fourth degree of consanguinity or affinity were also subjected to revamp in compliance with PNP Command Memorandum Circular 27-2021 entitled “Guidelines and Procedures in Securing the Conduct of the 2022 National and Local Elections (2022 NLE)”.

At present, three provincial offices and one city police office have their new provincial directors and city director. Occidental Mindoro Police Provincial Office is now spearheaded by Police Colonel SIMEON L GANE, JR; Oriental Mindoro Police Provincial Office by Police Colonel RENANTE C CABICO, Marinduque Police Provincial Office by Police Colonel CHRISTOPHER D MELCHOR while Police Colonel ROBERTO M BUCAD is assigned to Puerto Princesa City Police Office.

Meanwhile, at least 33 unit commanders including chiefs of police, company commanders, and unit chiefs in the provincial and regional headquarters were also re-aligned.

“We relieved unit commanders with great purpose. We need to observe the highest level of professionalism and non-partisanship as we discharge our sworn duties during election period”, PBGen HERNIA said.-RPIO MIMAROPA