HPG to probe ‘unauthorized’ VIP escorts
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police Highway Patrol Group (PNP HPG) is investigating allegations of police officers escorting VIPs without proper authorization, spokesperson Lt. Nadame Malang said on Friday.
This came after Senate public order committee chairperson Sen. JV Ejercito questioned the PNP HPG at a hearing late last February for allegedly escorting 20 to 30 VIPs during rush hour.
“We’ve already received some initial data and reports about this. We are still validating as well about the implicated individuals, whether these are HPG personnel or any member of PNP units, so they can be held accountable to the law,” Malang told reporters in Camp Crame.
READ: PNP chief defends use of motor escorts for VIPs
“For now, we are following our PNP memorandum circular, which says only the PNP HPG is authorized in the PNP to conduct VIP escorts among our fellow police officers,” he added.
He did not immediately cite a specific PNP memorandum circular.
Malang noted that HPG Director Brig. Gen. Hansel Marantan had met with Ejercito again the day after the Senate hearing to discuss the issue.
The HPG spokesperson further appealed to the public to report possible unauthorized VIP escorts by police officers or other law enforcers.
In another development, Malang noted that the HPG issued 78,280 traffic citation tickets; 31,679 temporary operator’s permits; and 7,417 ordinance violation receipts to motorists from Jan. 1 to Feb. 28, 2026.
He added that, during the same period, the HPG confiscated a total of 12,718 unauthorized sirens, horns, and lights violating Presidential Decree No. 96, which prohibits the unofficial use of loud gadgets and flashing devices on motor vehicles. /cb
