Napolcom hands-off on "bodyguards issue"

CEBU, Philippines - A top official of the National Police Commission (Napolcom) 7 does not see the need to step in the issue between Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia and the police over her police escorts.

Homer Mariano Cabaral, Napolcom 7 director, said they are just monitoring what is happening between the governor and the Cebu Provincial Police Office and will not do any investigation.

Cabaral, in yesterday’s press conference, said they will check the legality of the governor having more than two protective securities although, he said, local chief executives can always request for more.

Nevertheless, Cabaral said the NAPOLCOM assumes that Gov. Garcia complies with the number of police escorts allowed and that the Provincial Capitol did not violate Napolcom’s Memorandum Circular No. 2009-004 which provides the general guidelines governing the detail of PNP personnel as protective security.

Cabaral said that granting there is illegal deployment of bodyguards, they can only request the Provincial Capitol to comply with their policy but Napolcom will not impose any sanction against the Capitol.

Besides, the governor acts as a deputy of the Napolcom and has the authority to solve issues at her level.

The Napolcom would enter the picture if the governor seeks their help, Cabaral added.

But Cabaral said he does not see any mistake on the part of Sr. Supt. Louie Oppus, who was officer-in-charge of the CCPO, if he recalled Garcia’s bodyguards so that the policemen can be used for operations. — (FREEMAN)