Bohol police chief reminds cops to remain non-partisan

CARMEN, Bohol - The provincial director of the Bohol Provincial Police Office (BPPO) has issued a reminder for police officers to remain non-partisan and don’t meddle with the political affairs in the locality.

"Hindi maiwasan na may mga relative na mga pulitiko. They (police personnel) must not get involve in partisan politics as the mid-term elections near," Police Col. Osmundo Salibo said during the Talakayan sa Isyung Pulis (TSIP) on Thursday.

[It cannot be avoided that there are some who may have relatives who are politicians. They must not get involve in partisan politics as the mid-term elections near.]

“Express ang support natin sa balota na lang [Let us express our support through the ballot],” he said.

After two years, the program TSIP was revived by the BPPO and was held in Carmen town with Salibo and the chiefs of police from the third district of Bohol.

The police also reported on updates on the implementation of health protocols in the province.

There were at least 13,958 community quarantine violators arrested in the towns of Carmen and Alicia from January up to Nov. 10.

A total of 1,134 individuals were arrested in Carmen town alone for not wearing face masks, the police chief said.

At least 6,075 people were caught for violation of the implementation of the community quarantine.

There were 751 persons arrested for not wearing a face mask, four violated the provincewide curfew, 58 failed to follow the social distancing rule and 4,501 for violating DOTr guidelines.

Major Jesus Daplin, chief of Carmen police,  said they are strictly implementing the municipal ordinance on COVID-19 related health protocols.

He added that violators were fined. The first offense was verbal warning and barangay violation, the violator has to shell out P1, 000 for second offense and P1, 500 for third and succeeding offenses.

In the town of Alicia, at least 7,883 quarantine violators caught. There were at least 2, 105 violators caught for not wearing face mask with 1,600 arrested for social distancing while 380 did not wear face shields, at least 1,725 were curfew violators, and 1,120 did not follow DOTr guidelines.

The forum aims to showcase the PNP’s accomplishments and questions posed by the media practitioners are tackled.

Police Community Relations (PCR) Chief Joseph Berondo said they revived the program as part of the initiative of the BPPO to increase awareness of the public and claimholders.

Salibo, during the program, also encouraged police  to help in vaccination.

"Maraming pamahiin eh. I- encourage natin ang mga tao na magpabakuna para tumaas ang vaccination rate natin," Salibo said. -- BAP, GMA News