Tolentino questions arrest of escorts: They didn’t impersonate cops

Sen. Francis “Tol” Tolentino during one of the Senate hearings. Senate PRIB file photo / Bibo Nueva España

MANILA, Philippines — Senate Majority Floor Leader Francis Tolentino said his two motorcycle escorts, who were apprehended on May 29 for unauthorized use of police insignia, violated no laws.

Tolentino’s motorcycle escorts are two Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) officers who were nabbed for having police insignia stickers on their motorcycles, the Philippine National Police’s Highway Patrol Group (HPG) earlier bared.

READ: Tolentino: We have no control over stickers escorts put on vehicles

In a statement on Friday, Tolentino defended his two motorcycle escorts, questioning the basis of their arrest.

“They were charged with Usurpation of Authority, yet they never impersonated police officers. Secondly, they were charged with improper use of stickers, but there is no law prohibiting the use of stickers. Perhaps insignias, but the stickers weren’t even on their uniforms,” Tolentino said.

In the same statement, the senator emphasized that “no laws were violated” as the MMDA riders “owned the motorcycles with markings.” It then prompted him to call for “clarity on the policy” regarding the use of blinkers, stickers, and decals, as well as the operational jurisdiction of the HPG.

Provide correct information

Meanwhile, Tolentino likewise called the attention of PNP spokesperson Police Col. Jean Fajardo, who, according to the senator, disseminated inaccurate information about the incident.

Tolentino claimed that Fajardo discussed the arrest of the two MMDA riders in a press conference on Thursday, noting that she claimed that the motorcycle escorts were “wearing police uniforms.”

“It appears that [Police] Col. Fajardo has mixed up details of separate incidents involving the arrest of riders and a police officer,” Tolentino remarked.

“As a spokesperson, it is your duty and obligation to the general public to provide the correct information,” he added.

For MMDA’s part, the agency’s acting chief, Don Artes, said it would look into the incident to determine whether or not the two riders should be charged administratively.