This August 31, 2022, photo shows Philippine National Police chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. during a press briefing in Malacañang. Philippine Daily Inquirer/ Marianne Bermudez
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday said it had relieved the police colonel involved in an altercation with a security guard at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia).
According to PNP chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr., the bickering stemmed from a misunderstanding between airport authorities and PNP Aviation Security Group National Capital Region (AVSEG-NCR) chief Col. Cesar Gerente after the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) implemented new security arrangements at the Naia Terminal 1.
Azurin said that MIAA security officers allegedly challenged Gerente about why he was doing rounds within the airport premises while in his uniform, inspecting security arrangements by the MIAA.
“Automatic naman si Director [ng] Aviation natin administratively ni-relieve niya ‘yung chief ng AVSEG-NCR nang para sa ganun kung mag-conduct ng investigation at least automatic hindi siya makakaapekto sa resulta ng investigation,” the PNP chief said in a press briefing.
(The Director [of] our Aviation automatically administratively relieved the chief of AVSEG-NCR so that if an investigation is conducted, at least he will not influence the result of the investigation.)
He added that the PNP is now looking into the incident.
No ‘almost-shootout’
Azurin also denied an “almost-shootout” between Gerente and airport security personnel.
“There was no ‘almost-shootout’ na nangyari, hindi totoo ‘yun and nalaman na rin ni [MIAA] GM [general manager] ‘yung incident, that’s why this morning they have a coordinating meeting kung ano gagawin,” he noted.
(There was no “almost-shootout” that happened, that’s not true and the MIAA GM also found out about the incident, so this morning they have a coordinating meeting on what to do.)
“Kasi nga ang sabi ko kapag may mga ganyan na mga changes doon sa standing implementation, I think it is very important na let us define lahat ‘di ba, sino authorized pumasok, saan pupwesto ang PNP, para hindi po magkagulo,” he added.
(As I have said, when there are changes in the standing implementation, I think it is vital to let us define everything, who is authorized to enter, and where the PNP is supposed to go, so there will be no confusion.)
Last Thursday, December 1, the PNP ordered its officers at the airport to do an inspection in the vicinity which later resulted in an altercation and eventually, Regente allegedly hit a security guard when his group was prevented from entering through the lobby’s exit area.
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