Police officers with relatives who will be running for a barangay or Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) post in next month’s polls will be reassigned during the election period to avoid partiality, said an official of the Bohol Provincial Police Office (BPPO).

“Sa matag eleksyon nga atong na-experience, kung dunay mga paryente sa atong mga kandidato, automatic gyud na sila ibalhin nato sa laing station unya ibalik ra pud sila human sa election period,” said Sr. Insp. Rufo Potane, chief of the BPPO’s Community Relations Branch.

According to Potane, the BPPO will be able to identify who will be reassigned after the filing of certificates of candidacy (COC) for the elections.

The filing of COCs is scheduled to start on April 14  which is also the start of the election period while the deadline is on April 20.

“Sa pagkakaron, wala pa kay wala pa man pud ang filing sa candidacy, di nato ma-confirm kung pila ang atong kapolisan nga dunay paryente sa mokandidato, unya pa gyud ni mahibaw-i kung human na ang filing of candidacy,” he said.

The BPPO’s community relations chief also reminded police officers to maintain impartiality during the elections.

“ Atong phihumdom sa atong mga kaubanan nga dili gyud mag-apil-apil, maglikay sa mga buhat nga salawayon sa atong trabaho,” he added.

Earlier, Commission on Elections (Comelec) Bohol election supervisor Atty. Elesio Labaria reminded government employees who are planning to run for positions in the barangay elections to vacate their current posts in public office as mandated by poll rules.

The policy covers casual, job-order and regular government employees, said Labaria.

According to Labaria, the polls will be held on May 14 while the election period will officially end on May 21.

Poll-related prohibitions, particularly the election gun ban, are expected to be enforced during the over month-long election period. (R. Tutas)