PNP says recall of PDEA’s escorts due to manpower for SEA Games

September 30, 2019

The head of the Philippine National Police ( PNP) on Monday said the lack on manpower for the coming Southeast Asian Games is the reason 15 police escorts of Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency ( PDEA) chief Aaron Aquino were recalled.

Police General Oscar Albayalde said is the explanation by the Central Luzon regional director, Police Brigadier General Joel Colonel.

The PNP chief clarified that the recall of Aquino's escorts is not related to the recent issue of “ninja cops” where the two agencies are involved.

“I was briefed that he has 15 (police escorts) and all coming from the regional mobile group of Police Regional Office (PRO) 3 and of course these are not sanctioned by the Police Security and Protection Group (PSPG),” he said.

“Due to SEA Games, the RD of PRO3 pull edout (the police escorts) temporarily,” he said.

He said only the PSPG is authorized to give security detail.

Albayalde said he ordered temporary police escorts for Aquino while the PNP are processing his request.

“Director General Aquino already has a request and it is now under process but temporarily I already directed PRO 3 to give at least temporary detail at least four,” he said.

He said following the Alunan doctrine and President Rodrigo Duterte’s order, it’s not normal to have 15 police escorts.

“We will get the comment of PRO 3 for losing at least 15 because we want these people to be all transferred to PSPG. You would just imagine you would be losing 15 of your men,” he said.

“PDEA has their own men and there are a lot of retired AFP and PNP personnel that are fully trained,” he said.

In a radio interview, Aquino appealed to the Central Luzon regional director to restore his security detail adding there is also a verbal instruction from President Rodrigo Duterte.

“I asked him (Coronel) that I have many death threats and I will not be able to move if they recall (the police escorts). But he did not listen,” he said.

The PNP said Coronel assured all recalled police escorts will be returned to  VIPs once the SEA Games is over.  Ella Dionisio/DMS