HPG chief says another cop, soldier caught moonlighting as escorts
MANILA, Philippines – An operative of the Philippine National Police’s (PNP) Highway Patrol Group (HPG) and an alleged soldier were apprehended for serving as motorcycle escorts to a private luxury vehicle.
In a press conference on Tuesday, HPG chief Brigadier General Jay Cumigad said the Regional Highway Patrol Unit in Metro Manila conducted an operation against “illegal escorts” tainting “[their] units” at around 4 p.m. on May 27.
“We happen to apprehend two uniformed personnel from—one, unfortunately, is from the PNP [while the other] one is from the Armed Forces of the Philippines,” said Cumigad, adding that both of the personnel are now facing charges for usurpation of authority.
READ: PNP chief wants to expedite raps vs 2 moonlighting SAF members, commanders
Cumigad said they have yet to identify the owner of the private vehicle that the HPG personnel and the alleged AFP officer were escorting.
“That is the subject of our investigation. It sped away, according to the chief NCR, the road was too busy at the time and it would be very risky to …apprehend,” he explained.
As for the vehicles used for escorting, he said one was registered under the provincial government of Cavite, and the other was a private motorcycle.
According to Cumigad, the officers were earning money from this moonlighting act. However, personnel of the country’s police force are prohibited from having a second job in addition to their regular employment.
“Police officers are prohibited from having other jobs. There are those who ask for permission—must be in writing—and such request needs the approval of the [Secretary of Interior and Local Government]. For example, if they want to practice their other profession—our doctors, lawyers. It’s the SILG that grants their requests,” said PNP chief General Rommel Francisco Marbil in the same press conference.
The two officers were apprehended not long after two Special Action Force (SAF) personnel were caught on a moonlighting racket for a Chinese national.
