PDEA chief gets back police escorts

MANILA, Philippines – The police escorts of Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Director General Aaron Aquino have been redeployed to secure him, PDEA spokesperson Derrick Carreon confirmed on Monday.

In a text message to INQUIRER.net, Carreon answered in the affirmative when asked if the police escorts of Aquino, who were earlier temporarily recalled, have been redeployed to secure the chief of anti-narcotics agency.

He said the police escorts were recalled on September 18, and redeployed on September 26.

Also on Monday, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Oscar Albayalde said he had ordered Brig. Gen. Joel Napoleon Coronel, Central Luzon police director, to temporarily return at least four police escorts of Aquino, who also served as director of the regional police before he was appointed PDEA chief.

READ: PDEA chief’s security escorts recalled

He said the police escorts will temporarily secure Aquino only for 30 days.

Albayalde said Aquino used to have 15 police escorts — a number he said is not normal — since the law only allows two police escorts for individuals with threats to their lives.

Albayalde likewise denied that the recall of Aquino’s escorts was related to the latter’s exposé on “ninja cops,” or police officers who recycle and resell illegal drugs confiscated in drug operations.

He also denied that Aquino was being singled out in the recall of police escorts, and that it may be mere coincidence since personnel of the Central Luzon police, of which Aquino’s security detail are from, are needed to secure the 2019 Southeast Asian Games in Clark and Tarlac from November 30 to December 11. /gsg

READ: Gov’t security escorts from C. Luzon recalled for SEA Games