Senators’ security tightened due to ‘threats’ linked to Pogo probe

Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero. —Senate Public Relations and Information Bureau

MANILA, Philippines — The Senate has taken steps to tighten security measures for some of its members who are facing death threats purportedly because of their continuing inquiry into the illegal activities of Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogos) and their alleged protectors.

In an amendment to Senate rules, the chamber authorized the expansion of the mandate of the Office of the Sergeant at Arms (Osaa) to include the protection of individual senators on top of securing their offices in the Government Service Insurance System complex in Pasay City.

READ: ‘Sick, stressed’ Alice Guo skips Senate panel’s Pogo probe

“Last night (Tuesday), we amended a portion of the rules authorizing the sergeant at arms to do what he can to protect not only the institution, the office, the building and those in it but also the members of the Senate,” Senate President Francis Escudero said, referring to Osaa head, retired Army Gen. Roberto Ancan.

‘Can’t be limitless’

The Senate is still finalizing the parameters and guidelines of the amended rules, he said.

READ: Senators probe Tarlac Pogo for ‘spy ops’; mayor grilled

“It cannot be limitless. So we’re still fixing the parameters. Hopefully, it’s fixed by this week,” Escudero said at a press briefing.

The Senate chief said such adjustments were necessary “[e]specially after the [Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice] Guo and Pogo hearings.”

He was referring to the investigation by the Senate committee on women, chaired by Sen. Risa Hontiveros, into illegal Pogos, including the involvement of Guo, who has been accused of being a Chinese national who just faked her birth records to seek public office as a Filipino.

Last month, Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian wrote a letter to the Pasay police to report threats on his life, saying he believed they were connected to his participation in the Pogo hearings.

Guo has defied a summons issued by the Senate, prompting the issuance of an arrest warrant against her for her repeated failure to attend the hearings.

The amendment to the Senate rules in view of the security concerns was proposed by Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino though Senate Resolution No. 1114, which he introduced in plenary on Tuesday.

“[T]he Office of the Sergeant at Arms should be empowered to maintain order and security of the institution, ensure the protection and safety of its Members within and outside the Senate, and perform such other functions and activities as may be essential to legislation,” Tolentino’s measure read in part.

Serving subpoenas

It increased the duties and powers of the Senate sergeant at arms to include being “responsible for the security and maintenance of order in the session hall, antechambers, corridors and offices of the Senate, and the protection and safety of all its members within or outside the Senate premises, whether in session or not, in accordance with the orders of the President or the Secretary.”

Tolentino took note of the Senate’s reliance on law enforcement agencies in the execution or service of summons and subpoenas, enforcement of contempt orders, and the protection and safety of each senator.

“Such reliance on law enforcement agencies, while carried out within the bounds of the law, nonetheless hampers the Senate’s capacity, as part of an independent branch of government, to establish its own security and operational protocols,” he said.

The Osaa was also tasked “to execute or serve, personally or through his delegates, the summons and subpoenas which may be issued by the Senate, by the permanent or special committees or by the President himself.”

“To enforce any citation for contempt issued by any committee of the Senate, and to detain and place under custody any witness who disobeys any order of the committee…or who unduly refuses to appear or bring before the committee certain documents and/or object evidence required by the committee notwithstanding the issuance of appropriate subpoena,” the resolution added.

Security pullout

Escudero clarified that the amended Senate rules had nothing to do with an issue earlier raised by Senators Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa and Christopher “Bong” Go.

Dela Rosa and Go criticized the decision of the Philippine National Police to recall 75 police escorts from Vice President Sara Duterte’s security detail.

“This is in response, not by the situation of Senator Bato or Sen. Bong Go. This amendment was due to what happened to the hearings on Mayor Alice Guo where some of our members received threats,” he said.