MANILA — The Philippine National Police (PNP) has warned its personnel against making partisan political statements on social media, following an alleged post by a police corporal assigned in Region 13 questioning efforts to amend the Constitution.
The post reportedly read: “Kung ganyan man lang kadali baguhin ang ating Constitution, I tell you sobrang kawawa natin mga Pilipino.”
PNP Public Information Office (PIO) chief PCol. Allen Rae Co said the police organization would first verify whether the account indeed belonged to the officer.
“If it will be proven that he was the one who posted this, this is a direct and a clear violation of our Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards which states na ang atin pong pagiging pulis is a privilege,” Co said.
“So, we must hold ourselves to a higher standard than the normal citizen and this privilege of being a member of the PNP comes with certain restrictions on appearance,” he added.
Under the PNP Code of Professional Conduct and Ethical Standards, non-partisanship is among the standards expected of police personnel.
Co said police officers may have their own political beliefs and opinions, but these should not be expressed in a manner that compromises the PNP's neutrality.
“May I remind our personnel that we are law enforcers, not lawmakers. That power is reserved solely sa ating judiciary, legislature in enacting and interpreting the law. Sa amin po ay PNP members, we are there to enforce the law whatever the law is. So we do not interpret, we do not judge,” he stressed.
The PNP said the alleged post may therefore be assessed as political expression, depending on the circumstances and the results of the validation and administrative proceedings.
POSSIBLE SANCTIONS
Co said the matter is administrative in nature and may fall under the disciplinary mechanisms provided under Republic Act 6975.
Under the PNP law, police regional directors have authority to impose various administrative penalties, including admonition or reprimand, restriction, withholding of privileges, suspension or forfeiture of salary, demotion, and, in appropriate cases, dismissal from the service.
Co clarified, however, that dismissal is only one possible sanction and is not yet being imposed on the corporal.
He said the appropriate summary hearing officers would first determine whether the alleged post constitutes a dismissible offense.
“Ito ay titingnan natin kung ano talaga ang extent. May question nga does this constitute ‘yung political expression or political beliefs. Of course, we respect our personnel’s right to their own opinion but keep it to yourself, kasi the PNP as an institution, should remain apolitical,” he stressed.
The PNP maintains that while its personnel retain personal rights and opinions, their conduct must remain consistent with the political neutrality, professionalism and ethical standards expected of members of the police organization.