By Jennifer P. Rendon

The Police Regional Office (PRO-6) will seek the transfer and reassignment of personnel who have relatives running in the 2025 midterm elections.

However, Brigadier General Jack Wanky, Western Visayas police chief, said they can only determine the number of affected personnel once the filing of certificates of candidacy (COC) is completed.

He said they have already received a directive from the PNP national headquarters to account for personnel who will be temporarily removed from their current assignments.

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

Wanky noted that transferring personnel with family ties to political candidates is standard practice within the organization to ensure that politicians do not receive any favor or special treatment during elections.

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

The police officers will be reassigned to other stations within the city or province. Others may be assigned to provincial or city police office headquarters as part of the reserve force.

After the elections, they will return to their previous units unless they request to stay in their new assignments.