PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) Chief Oscar Albayalde confirmed on Monday, September 30, the recall of the police security escorts of Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Director Aaron Aquino but clarified that it was not in any way connected with the revelation he made before the Senate about “ninja cops.”
Albayalde said Central Luzon Police Regional Director Joel Coronel explained to him that Aquino’s police security escorts will be deployed for the upcoming Southeast Asian (SEA) Games from November 30 until December 11.
He said Aquino’s security detail consists of 15 policemen from the Central Luzon Regional Mobile Group.
Under the Alunan doctrine, only two security personnel may be assigned to each person as more than two will already be considered as private army.
Albayalde said he was not aware of a “special accommodation” for Aquino, who was the former head of Central Luzon Police Regional Office.
“As I have heard or na-brief ako na 15 yata ‘yung mga nandun sa kanya and all coming from the regional mobile group ng PRO 3 and of course these are not sanctioned by the PSPG. Remember in the PNP ang authorized lang na magbigay ng security is the PSPG. Temporary lang basis ‘yung sa PRO 3,” said Albayalde.
“Meron naman na request si DG Aquino sa PNP and it's now under process but temporarily I already directed PRO 3 to give at least temporary detail kahit na four lang kasi remember we also follow the Alunan doctrine. Very strict din ang ating Presidente rito. Baka yung iba naman sasabihin nila may double standard na naman kami with the 15 securities na nasa kanya,” he added.
The recall of Aquino’s police escorts came after Aquino revealed during a Senate hearing on PDEA’s proposed budget for 2020 that recycling of illegal drugs by police officers often called as ninja cops is still rampant.
"When they seize drugs, maybe half of that will be surrendered. Or 'yun yung papalabas nila na 'yun lang ang na-seize nila. While all the other ones are being kept for other future operations, or worse, binebenta," Aquino said during the hearing.
It was Senator Richard Gordon who first revealed the recall of Aquino’s security escorts.
He expressed concern that the government's number one drug enforcer would be stripped of police escorts.
“Why would you remove his security? It’s not proper. They should bring back his security [escorts]. How can he conduct operations?” he said.
Earlier, Albayalde said he harbored no hard feelings for Aquino after the latter's revelations but he said it would have been better had they been informed before it was made public.
“I would like to respectfully urge PDEA to respect and maintain inter-agency courtesy and protocols on mutual cooperation. The least PDEA should have done was to inform the PNP so that we could have acted upon the information on alleged cops doing drug recycling,” he said.
On Tuesday, October 1, Albayalde will face a Senate investigation to shed light on ninja cops, the term for policemen who recycle seized illegal drugs. (SunStar Philippines)