PRO-6 Reassigns 127 Cops With Poll-Running Relatives

By Jennifer P. Rendon

The Police Regional Office (PRO) 6 has confirmed the relief and reassignment of more than 100 police officers who have relatives running in the 2025 midterm elections.

Brigadier General Jack Wanky, Western Visayas police chief, said 127 PRO-6 personnel have been identified as having relatives seeking elective positions.

“They have already been transferred to different units,” Wanky added.

Earlier, the PNP national headquarters ordered lower units to account for personnel who will be temporarily removed from their current assignments.

Police officers with relatives within the fourth degree of consanguinity or affinity are expected to be reassigned from areas where their relatives are running.

Wanky said the transfer of personnel with family ties to political candidates is standard practice to ensure that politicians do not receive special treatment during elections.

“We are appealing for fairness during elections. The move should start with us. While I know our personnel are professional, we just want to avoid any assumptions that could tarnish the integrity of the elections,” Wanky said.

It was reported that the affected officers were reassigned to other stations within the city or province.

Some were assigned to provincial or city police office headquarters, where they will form part of the reserve force.

After the elections, they will return to their previous units unless they request to be retained.

In addition to this, Wanky said they initiated the transfer of unit commanders who have reached the maximum two-year tour of duty (TOD) or will reach two years from October 2024 to June 2025 in their current assignments.

This move affected seven chiefs of police who had reached the two-year maximum TOD.

Wanky added that 30 more will follow after deliberations by the respective boards of the provincial and city police offices.