Palace washes hands off PNP escorts issue

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang distanced itself yesterday from the decision of the Philippine National Police (PNP) to recall last month the police security escorts assigned to opposition Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV.

Roque said the Palace is giving the PNP a free hand to do its job regarding security and protection of certain individuals.

“Per PNP, two were removed as he already had six when he is only allowed four (security escorts). Let’s allow our PNP to keep our communities safe please,” presidential spokesman Harry Roque said.

Trillanes, a staunch critic of President Duterte, said the PNP recalled the police escorts assigned to him days after a series of assassinations against local officials.

The opposition senator said he has been stripped of his escorts as early as the end of June, without having been told of the reasons. 

Trillanes then described President Duterte as “coward.” 

PNP chief Director General Oscar Albayalde yesterday denied that Malacañang ordered the recall of the police escorts of Trillanes.

The term of the opposition senator’s police security details expired and needs renewal, Albaylade said at the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) in Silang, Cavite.

Albayalde said there are processes that have to be followed for politicians and other VIPs to have security escorts.

He added an individual in need of protective detail can have a maximum of two police escorts from the PNP Police Security and Protection Group (PSPG). He did not say how many police officers politicians and other VIPs may have as escorts.

PNP spokesman Senior Supt. Benigno Durana Jr. said the PNP did not renew the police escorts of the senator after they learned that Trillanes already had six security personnel, two from the Armed Forces of the Philippines, two from the Philippine Navy and two from the Senate.

The non-renewal is in compliance with the implementation of the “Alunan Doctrine” which provides that government officials can only have two security personnel protecting them.

The doctrine was introduced by former interior and local government secretary Rafael Alunan III to prevent politicians from having their own private armies. – With Emmanuel Tupas