DILG orders PNP to probe SWAT team deployment in a private event

Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos | PHOTO: Official facebook page of Benhur Abalos

MANILA, Philippines — In a bid to prevent moonlighting activities involving law enforcers, Interior and Local Government Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. has ordered the Philippine National Police (PNP) to investigate the reported presence of a Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team in a private event.

In a statement on Wednesday, Abalos mentioned that he had received reports that a SWAT team of Batangas was seen during the soft-launching of a networking company held in Pasig City.

“Pictures of the members of the said [SWAT] Team sent to my office showed they were in their respective uniforms, with some carrying their firearms,” Abalos said.

He added that the Department of the Interior and Local Government will not tolerate the deployment of active police personnel as private escorts or for purely private purposes.

READ: PNP to create special team to prevent moonlighting activities of cops

Last month, the PNP said it plans to form a special team dedicated to preventing the unauthorized use of marked vehicles and tracking down its personnel engaging in moonlighting activities.

Once formed, the team would consist of officials from the Department of Transportation, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, its Highway Patrol Group, and Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group. — Felice Nafarrete, INQUIRER.net intern