MANILA, Philippines — Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino accused the Philippine National Police (PNP) yesterday of spreading misinformation and of lacking clear guidelines following the arrest of two Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) enforcers escorting him in Parañaque last Wednesday.
Addressing PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo, the senator said the PNP made it appear that the arrest of the two MMDA riders and a police officer caught moonlighting as an escort were connected.
Tolentino alleged that Fajardo said the MMDA riders were wearing police uniforms. He said he was present during the incident and the riders were not in police attire.
The MMDA enforcers were apprehended for allegedly having police insignias and “master rider badges” on their motorcycles while escorting Tolentino. There were also reports that they used sirens and blinkers.
“It appears that Fajardo has mixed up the details of separate incidents,” Tolentino said. “As a spokesperson, it is your duty and obligation to the general public to provide the correct information.”
He questioned the basis for the police Highway Patrol Group (HPG)’s arrest of his escorts, pointing out that no guidelines are currently in place.
President Marcos has restricted the use of sirens and blinkers to the official vehicles of law enforcement agencies, the military, ambulances and fire trucks.
Fajardo said yesterday the MMDA enforcers were ordered released by the inquest prosecutor for further investigation on Thursday. The fiscal set a preliminary investigation hearing on June 24.
Tolentino said his escorts “never impersonated police officers” and that “there is no law prohibiting the use of stickers. Perhaps insignias, but the stickers weren’t even on their uniforms.”
The HPG confirmed that the MMDA’s escort of Tolentino was authorized.
Tolentino emphasized that no laws were violated, as the MMDA owned the motorcycles with the markings.
He called for clarity on the policy regarding the use of blinkers, stickers and decals, as well as the operational jurisdiction of the HPG.
Fajardo, responding to Tolentino calling her out on his radio program, said the topic was not discussed during her news conference on Thursday.
What Fajardo said she discussed was an update on the case of a policeman assigned at the HPG and an ex-Army trooper who were caught moonlighting as motorcycle escorts of the occupants of a Toyota Alphard luxury vehicle in Parañaque on Monday.
The apprehension of the two MMDA escorts was discussed by Col. Neil Francia, who heads the HPG’s National Capital Region field office, Fajardo said.
Each police unit has officials and designated spokespersons who are authorized to speak on issues related to their respective offices, she noted.
“With due respect to Senator Tolentino, if he was offended in any way, I am asking for forgiveness. We did not have any intention for him to be dragged into this issue,” Fajardo said.