PNP sacks Iloilo police chief, says he ‘won’t be apolitical’ in poll duties

Col. Bayani Razalan has been relieved as Iloilo Provincial Police Office chief for allegedly refusing to be apolitical in carrying out his duties related to next month’s midterm elections. — Photo from the Iloilo Provincial Police Office/Facebook

MANILA, Philippines — The chief of the Iloilo Provincial Police Office was relieved because he allegedly “won’t be apolitical” in carrying out duties related to the 2025 national and local elections.

This was according to Philippine National Police public information chief Col. Randulf Tuaño, who made the announcement in a press conference at the Department of the Interior and Local Government headquarters in Quezon City on Friday.

“[Y]ung sa Region 6, yung ating provincial director, hindi dahil sa may insidente, siya ay tinanggal (In Region 6, our provincial director, not because there was an incident, he was removed,)” Tuaño said.

When asked to specify which provincial police office was involved, Tuaño answered that it was Iloilo’s, which was headed by Col. Bayani Razalan.

As for the basis of the relief, Tuaño explained, “Walang specifics na binanggit na ginawa. Pero ito ay base sa decision ng ating regional director na, sa tingin niya, hindi magagampanan yung election-related duties nang hindi siya (provincial director) magiging apolitical.”

(No specifics were mentioned about what he did. But this was based on the decision of our regional director that, in his view, the provincial director won’t be able to fulfill their election-related duties without being apolitical.)

Razalan’s relief was still pending clearance from the Commission on Elections (Comelec), Police Regional Office (PRO) 6 public information officer Col. Arnel Solis said in a message to INQUIRER.net.

According to Tuaño, PRO 6 director Brig. Gen. Jack Wanky was still assessing whether other chiefs of police and station commanders should be relieved.

“Hindi lang dahil may insidente na ikaw ay pwedeng tanggalin. Ikaw ay tatanggalin kapag tiningnan sa assessment ng kanilang mga commander, ikaw ay hindi magiging patas sa pagpapatupad ng iyong tungkulin sa darating na eleksyon,” Tuaño said.

(Incidents are not the only reason for you to be removed. You will be removed if, in the assessment of their commanders, you won’t be fair in fulfilling your duties in the coming election.)

READ: PNP chief warns vs partisanship as election season nears

Ahead of the filing of certificates of candidacy for the midterm polls, PNP Chief Gen. Rommel Marbil warned against active police officers engaging in partisan activities, stressing that personnel violating the policy would face sanctions.