POGO escorts? IAS probes 2 SAF men

MANILA, Philippines — The Internal Affairs Service (IAS) of the Philippine National Police (PNP) has started its investigation of two Special Action Force (SAF) commandos who reportedly provided escort services to Chinese nationals in a village in Muntinlupa City.

“We are building up the case. We will proceed to summary dismissal proceedings after,” IAS inspector general Brigido Dulay said in a text message to The STAR.

Dulay said they hope to complete the dismissal proceedings within 30 days.

Two police commandos were relieved from their posts along with seven other SAF officials due to the controversy, which irked PNP chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil.

Marbil said those involved in the scheme should be dismissed from the PNP.

“They will get all the cases na dapat para sa kanila. I told the IAS chief that I want them out of the police service,” Marbil said in an interview over dzBB.

The activities of the two SAF officers were discovered after they figured in a fistfight reportedly at the house of a Chinese, said to be an official of a Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) firm, in Ayala Alabang Village.

Marbil said the SAF officers admitted receiving monetary considerations from their sideline job as security escorts.

Whatever the explanation of the SAF officers who are originally assigned in Mindanao, Marbil said it “is unacceptable for them to offer protection services to civilians.”

Based on the PNP’s regulations, only the Police Security and Protection Group is authorized to provide protection to people with threats to their safety.

“So ‘yung mga high and medium threats lang ang binibigyan namin ng security,” Marbil said.

He ordered an accounting of all SAF personnel assigned with regional mobile forces across the country.

“We don’t know if we are just opening a can of worms. That’s why we will dig deeper into this,” PNP public information officer Col. Jean Fajardo said.

Having been assigned with the SAF, Marbil said the actions of the police officers put the entire PNP in a bad light.

Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, who chairs the House committee on dangerous drugs, called on the PNP to reprimand police personnel serving as security escorts of Chinese POGO officials.

Barbers cited reports that the battalion commander of the SAF officers approved their deployment as POGO bodyguards, with a monthly salary of P40,000 each.

Barbers said half of the amount allegedly goes to their superior in the SAF. — Delon Porcalla