Albayalde: No order from Duterte to recall Trillanes’ police security

July 14, 2018

President Rodrigo Duterte did not order the recall of police escorts for opposition Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, Philippine National Police (PNP) Director General Oscar Albayalde said Saturday.

The PNP chief explained that all the detailed orders to police personnel of the VIPs and other elected officials have already expired and that could include Trillanes'.

“There is no order on that, I will still have to find out because probably the term or duty of his security has expired and they have to be renewed, the letter order to provide security, and of course it will undergo process. I will check with the director (of the) Police Security and Protection Group (PSPG) of its status,” he said when asked if it was Malacanang who ordered the recall of Trillanes' police escorts.

He said police officers could not forever be escorts of the VIPs or politicians as they have their own careers and some of them have been promoted or assigned to other units.

Albayalde made a clarification after Trillanes, a staunch critic of the President and his administration, said that since end June, his police and even military escorts have been recalled.

Like Trillanes, the police security escort of slain Tanuan City Mayor Antonio Halili was also recalled in 2017.

Halili was killed during the flag raising ceremony at New City Hall in Barangay Natatas, Tanauan City Batangas early this month. Robina Asido/DMS