THE poll body has exempted the police, military and other law enforcement agencies from the prohibition on the transfer or detail of any officer or employee in the civil service during the election period.
The exemption is contained in Commission on Elections (Comelec) Resolution 8768, authorizing the Philippine National Police (PNP), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to transfer or detail their personnel accordingly.
The resolution provides that the movement or reassignment shall be reported to the Comelec through the Committee on the Ban on Firearms and Security Personnel.
According to the Comelec, it is necessary for the PNP, AFP, and NBI to detail their personnel as security personnel or bodyguards of candidates.
Earlier, the poll body issued Resolutions 8714 and 8737.
Section 6 of Resolution 8714 provides that only regular members of the PNP, AFP, and NBI can be authorized to provide security or act as bodyguards during the election period.
Meanwhile, Section 1 of Resolution 8737 provides that no public official shall make or cause any transfer or detail of any officer or employee in the civil service from January 10 to June 9 of this year.