Explain police ‘umbrella boys’ LP told

Is it all right for policemen to be holding up umbrellas for VIPs?

The question was raised after several members of the Regional Public Safety Battalion were seen carrying yellow umbrellas for candidates in Tuesday’s Talisay City proclamation rally of the Liberal Party attended by President Aquino.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) provincial office will ask LP and its allies in Cebu to explain as well as the Police Regional Office.

“We will send a letter to them not only to ask them to explain but also to remind them of the unwritten rules of propriety and delicadeza,” Comelec provincial election officer Ferdinand Guijilde told reporters.

He said policemen were assigned in the rally to maintain peace and order and protect personalities and the public.

“Holding the umbrellas was just incidental during the rally. As much as possible, policemen should avoid carrying umbrellas for candidates although they may do so in emergency situations,” Guijilde said.

He said they have to find out whether the umbrellas used during the rally had party logos promoting the candidates.

Guijilde said colors per se are no longer symbolic of a party or candidate by the Comelec.

“We do not have the right to monopolize the use of certain colors. Colors are just colors even if they are identified with a party of candidates. Anybody can use colors,” he said.

Police officials said they saw nothing wrong the conduct of the RPSB-7 policemen .

Senior Supt. Leopoldo Cabanag, RPSB-7 chief, said these policemen are part of the security detail for the President’s visit.

Cabanag said the policemen were provided by the PNP with “barong Tagalog” so they would look presentable and that the 20 umbrellas used were part of a donation from Casino Pilipino and Pagcor.

“The police were part of the security detail,” said Chief Supt. Marcelo Garbo, Police Regional Office-7 (PRO-7) chief. Reporter Ador Vincent Mayol and Correspondents Carine M. Asutill and Chito Aragon