PNP Chief Rommel Francisco Marbil —Inquirer photo/Niño Jesus Orbeta
MANILA, Philippines — The leadership of the Philippine National Police on Sunday warned police officers moonlighting as bodyguards for private individuals that they would be caught and dismissed from the service.
The directive by PNP chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil was made after two Special Action Force (SAF) personnel were arrested in May due to a petty fight. During the investigation, they were discovered to have been serving as private guards for a Chinese national who turned out to be involved with illegal online gambling.
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Marbil, in a statement on Sunday, said the directive was also to ensure that police officers are “always available” to respond to complaints and emergencies.
He stressed that the prohibition on police officers moonlighting as private guards was also a move “reinforcing our commitment to quick and efficient response to any situation.”
“Our duty is to ensure the safety of our citizens,” Marbil said.
“Police must be available at all times to address the needs and concerns of the public,” he added.
Arrested for fistfight
The two SAF personnel were apprehended in May after being caught in a fistfight against each other inside a posh subdivision in Alabang, Muntinlupa City.
Following their arrest, the two policemen confessed they were employed as bodyguards for a Chinese national in the subdivision.
Marbil wanted the two policemen dismissed from the service and recommended the punishment to the Internal Affairs Service. The two are under the custody of the SAF at its headquarters in Laguna.
Marbil did not mention whether the two policemen had already been dismissed from the service or what internal sanctions had been imposed on them.
Marbil earlier ordered 85 percent of all police personnel to be actively engaged in field duties, significantly reducing the number of officers assigned to office work.
“This increased deployment of PNP personnel for patrolling is crucial [to] safeguarding community well-being. We are committed to making our communities safer by ensuring a strong police presence in public spaces. This initiative is designed to not only prevent crime but also to build trust and rapport with the communities we serve,” Marbil said.
He said the order was spurred by instructions from Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. and involved regular foot patrols in urban centers, residential areas, and other high-traffic locations to maintain police visibility.
Police units were also ordered to maintain operations that focus on authorized searches and inspections in designated areas, particularly those known for high crime rates.