CPPO recalls 4 bodyguards of vice guv

FOUR police bodyguards assigned to Cebu Vice Gov. Greg Sanchez were recalled by the Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) yesterday.

CPPO Director Erson Digal, though, made it clear the rift between Sanchez and Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia had nothing to do with the order.

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Digal said only governors and mayors can get security escorts from the CPPO.

Garcia said she did not order the pull-out of Sanchez’s security detail, contrary to her critic's claim yesterday.

She said the vice governor was supposed to have only two security escorts, but he was given additional personnel from the Capitol detachment during the May elections.

She said Sanchez can request from Digal if he wants to have security escorts.

But Sanchez, in an interview over dyLA, said he will not request for security personnel, saying he will leave everything to God.

"If they are interested in my life, unsa ma’y mahitabo nako, I leave everything to God," he added.

For Capitol spokesperson Rory Jon Sepulveda, Sanchez is trying to portray himself as a victim.

Garcia's security also did not reach 40, said Sepulveda when he was asked to comment on Sanchez’s allegation.

"It is another outrageous, baseless accusation of Sanchez," Sepulveda said.

But Sanchez said Digal had special instructions from the governor to pull out his security.

He also said, in the same radio interview, that he doubts if he can trust the security personnel who will replace those who have been pulled out.

He said the escorts have been with him since his first term in office.

Although he has not received any death threats, Sanchez said members of Central Command advised him to be careful.

"At this time, while the conflict is very hot, nothing will happen to me. Ang ila nabalak--and if everything will lie low, that's the time that I should be very, very careful," he added.

Sepulveda said the vice governor has lots of issues involving his business.

"Daghan siya atraso sa mga negosyo. Iyaha na nang problema," Sepulveda added.

Digal told reporters he already advised Sanchez to submit a letter-request to the Police Security Protection Group (PSPG) if he wants police escorts or hire security agents trained in VIP security.

The PSPG is the national police unit tasked to provide protection to individuals who need it.

Digal said with the Annual General Inspections approaching next month, he noticed there were still personnel assigned as bodyguards to some individuals.

He added he also recalled bodyguards of Garcia’s brothers, Byron and Winston, who had two bodyguards each.

Recalled

He could not say how Winston and Byron ended up with bodyguards from the CPPO headquarters, saying it was possible they applied for security escorts from the Commission on Elections (Comelec) during the election period or had the bodyguards assigned to them during the term of previous provincial police directors.

During the election period from January to June, all security escorts were ordered recalled and only the Comelec was authorized to assign security escorts to candidates, government officials and private individuals.

Digal said when he reviewed the list of personnel, he found the bodyguards who were still assigned to Sanchez, Winston and Byron and had them recalled and reassigned to stations that had only 14 to 16 personnel.

He added one of Sanchez’s bodyguards is a member of the Special Reaction Unit (SRU).

Based on PNP guidelines, an officer trained in special weapons and tactics cannot serve as a police escort.

Digal said they also lacked personnel in the stations and in the SRU team, as many officers are pursuing further studies.

“Wala ko’y labot anang ilang away. Ang akoa, kay dili man gud na allowed unya makita na sa records nga naa diay naka-assign as bodyguard (I’m just following the rules. I don’t want to be involved in their conflict),” he said.

Ideally, each police office should have only 10 percent of its force assigned to the headquarters and 90 percent on the field.