
Comelec checkpoints
POLICE personnel manning Commission on Elections (Comelec) checkpoints in various parts of the country would do well to strictly follow all the rules in the conduct of checkpoints.
If not, erring police officers and men face sanctions, according to the PNP’s Internal Affairs Service (IAS), which is monitoring the implementation of the election gun ban.
The establishment of Comelec-PNP checkpoints during the election period is aimed at ensuring the conduct of clean, honest, orderly and credible polls on May 12.
The 120-day election period started on January 12, while the poll campaign period for national candidates starts on February 11, which is 90 days before Election Day.
Local candidates, like district congressmen, governors, vice governors, board members, mayors, vice mayors and councilors, may start campaigning on March 28, which is 45 days before May 12.
PNP-IAS Inspector General Brigido Dulay said that in the conduct of checkpoints, police personnel must always respect human rights and ensure ethical policing.
PNP chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil had earlier said the public must always feel the election security measures of the police across the country, including far-flung areas.
Only visual search is required and no person may be subjected to body search.
All policemen manning checkpoints must wear body-worn cameras or alternative recording devices, according to checkpoint protocol.
In the view of many, including the ordinary citizens, motorists, on the other hand, ought to cooperate with those manning checkpoints.