PNP News Releases 2005

NO HAND IN POLL CHEATING

PNP Chief, Director General Hermogenes E Ebdane Jr. has brushed off unfounded allegations that the National Police is part of grand design to manipulate election results. “These allegations are downright preposterous. The PNP cannot possibly be part of any election fraud. In the first place, we are not even involved in the counting and canvassing of election returns,” Ebdane said.

The PNP Chief explained that the election duty of the PNP as a deputized agency of the Commission on Elections is to ensure a peaceful and orderly conduct of the elections in all polling centers.

This duty includes providing security to candidates, voters, and Comelec personnel; and implementing the law against certain prohibited acts during the election period.

He emphasized that the PNP “is maintaining a strictly neutral and non-partisan stance” in the May 10 elections. Ebdane also urged the electorate to exercise restraint and sobriety amid cases of election-related violent incidents that has so far claimed 80 lives and caused injury to 148 other persons in various parts of the country since the start of the election period.

“We should not allow political passions to get the better of our selves during this election,” Ebdane said. “We will deal firmly with anyone who will attempt to use intimidation or violence during this election,” he said.

He appealed for cooperation and support from the public even as he stressed that the entire police force is fully prepared to discharge its responsibility to keep the electoral process peaceful and orderly.

Meanwhile, the PNP high command has designated some members of the Command Group and Directorial Staff as supervisors in the some Police Regional Offices of the country. The supervising officials will oversee the smooth implementation of the PNP's election security measures particularly the campaign against unauthorized firearms and partisan armed groups, and the conduct of checkpoint operations against some terrorist and criminal elements.

Ebdane designated Deputy Director General Edgar Aglipay, PNP Deputy Director General for Administration as Supervisor for the National Capital Region. Deputy Director General Virtus Gil, PNP Deputy Director General for Operations was designated Supervisor for PRO-10 in Northern Mindanao , PRO-13 in the Caraga Region, and the Autonomous Region for