Members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) should be loyal to the people and the Constitution, not to politicians.

Any officer found engaging in partisan politics will be sanctioned, warned PNP chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar on Sunday.

In a statement, he ordered PNP personnel to stay away from candidates, both local and national, saying this has always been the stand of the 222,000-strong organization.

“I am warning all our personnel not to meddle into political activities or do things that can be misconstrued as expressions of support to any candidate. Mananagot sa akin ang sinumang makikisawsaw sa pulitika sa aming hanay (Those who will do so will be answerable to me),” he stated.

Eleazar earlier ordered an aggressive campaign against loose firearms and private armed groups as part of early security preparations to ensure the peaceful, honest, and orderly conduct of the national and local elections on May 9, 2022.

The filing of certificates of candidacy is ongoing nationwide until October 8 while the extended voters’ registration will be on October 11 to 30, Mondays to Fridays except on the last day, a Saturday which will accommodate registrants.

Voters will elect the president, vice president, 12 senators, and 63 seats for party-list representatives.

Local posts include 253 district representatives, 81 governors, 81 vice governors, 782 provincial board members; 146 city mayors, 146 city vice mayors, 1,650 city councilors; 1,488 municipal mayors; 1,488 municipal vice mayors; and 11,908 municipal councilors.

Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao voters will also choose 40 party representatives, 32 parliamentary district representatives, and eight reserved and sectoral representatives. (PNA)