The Commission on Elections (Comelec) exempted Sunday 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 that will last until June 9, 2010.

The Comelec, led by Chairman Jose Melo, saw the need for the exemption as thousands of candidates and public officers and private individuals apply for security escorts for their protection.

As provided in Section 6 of Comelec Resolution No. 8714, only regular members of the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines or the National Bureau of Investigation can be authorized to provide security or act as bodyguards during the election period.

The exemption is contained in Comelec en banc Resolution 8768 authorizing the PNP, AFP and NBI to transfer or detail its personnel accordingly, provided that the movement or reassignment will be reported to the poll body’s Committee on the Ban on Firearms and Security Personnel headed by Commissioner Lucenito Tagle.

Resolution No. 8768, signed by Melo and Commissioners Rene Sarmiento, Nicodemo Ferrer, Tagle, Armando Velasco, Elias Yusoph and Gregorio Larrazabal, said it is imperative for the PNP, AFP and NBI to detail its personnel as security personnel or bodyguards of candidates.

Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority reminded political parties that motorcades and proclamation rallies are not exempted from traffic rules especially if they utilize major thoroughfares in the metropolis.

In a radio interview over DZBB, Angelito Vergel de Dios, MMDA Traffic Enforcement Group Executive Director, said political motorcades and rallies must not add to the heavy traffic in Metro Manila.

“Their marshals who often ride motorcycles to guide and direct motorcade flow should stop whenever the traffic light says so. They cannot arbitrarily impede traffic flow just to make their convoy pass through. They shouldn’t feel exempted from observing traffic rules,” he said.

De Dios also said organizers of campaign sorties should not only ask permission from the host city but should also inform the MMDA ahead of their schedule so that the agency can deploy the necessary traffic enforcers.

“Asking permission from the city or locality where they will conduct their events must be strictly observed. But some of these political parties do not recognize the fact that they should also inform the MMDA about their rallies and events because these affect traffic flow especially when they pass by major roads,” he added.

De Dios likewise urged political parties to refrain from closing streets just to put up stages for their campaign assemblies.

“Spare the streets from your political gatherings because closing them have direct effects to motorists. Why not use public plazas or other open spaces for these events so that they will not cause impediments to smooth traffic flow?” the official said.

MMDA General Manager Robert Nacianceno for his part urged politicians to post campaign materials only in designated areas and to spare the trees.

“We have been advocating for ‘Metro Green’ so we discourage the posting of campaign materials on trees. Some of them do not understand that once you nail these trees, there’s a tendency that the hole will be a breeding area for fungi and other illnesses that can cause the deaths of trees,” Nacianceno said.

The 90-day campaign period for candidates for national posts officially started last Tuesday, February 9. Various campaign posters, tarpaulins, and the likes have since sprouted overnight not only in Metro Manila but throughout the country.