PNP-IMEG checks reports of cops serving as biz security escorts

PNP-IMEG logo. INQUIRER FILES

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police-Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group (PNP-IMEG) is looking into reports about three police officers allegedly providing escort service to a Chinese businessman.

PNP-IMEG director Brig. Gen. Warren de Leon said they received a tip from an informant about the three police officers’ purported moonlighting activities in a hotel in Manila.

“May nagtext sa amin na ‘yun daw ‘yung mga pulis na nag e-escort sa mga negosyante, so pinuntahan namin para i-verify sa sinabing lugar kung saan sila makikita,” de Leon said in an interview over Radyo 630.

(Someone texted us that police officers were providing escort services to businessmen, so we went to the area to verify.)

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“Sa isang hotel po dito sa Maynila, pinuntahan namin, nakausap namin ‘yung mga staff doon, mga security guard. Sabi nila wala na raw, hindi na raw pumupunta, hindi na raw makikita at kahit ‘yung mga operatiba natin, ‘yung mga taga-IMEG ay wala ng makitang ganun doon,” he added.

(We went to a hotel here in Manila and talked to some staff and security guards. They said the police officers are no longer there, they do not go there anymore, they’ve not seen them anymore, and even our operatives from IMEG did not find them there.)

De Leon nevertheless said they would still conduct monitoring since they also received three more reports involving other police officers supposedly providing escort services to private individuals.

“May nagtext po sa amin, tatlo po. Nakausap po namin ‘yung PNP Security Protection Group, nagbigay po kami ng mga pangalan,” he said.

(We received three text reports. We talked to the PNP Security Protection Group and provided the names.)

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“’Yun po ‘yung amin mino-monitor para makasuhan po,” he added.

(We are monitoring this now so we may file cases.)

According to de Leon, the number of police officers and PNP personnel engaging in moonlighting activities has already decreased after two members of the PNP-Special Action Force (SAF) were arrested for causing a disturbance inside a village in Ayala Alabang last May 18.

Authorities later discovered that the two Zamboanga-based PNP-SAF officers served as bodyguards of a Chinese national.

The PNP earlier said that it plans to form a special team dedicated to preventing the unauthorized use of police-marked vehicles and tracking down officers and personnel engaging in moonlighting activities.

It said the team will consist of officials from the Department of Transportation, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, PNP-Highway Patrol Group, and PNP-IMEG. — with reports from Felice Nafarrete, trainee