PNP to recall politicians’ unauthorized cop escorts

MANILA, Philippines — Police escorts whose deployment to politicians was unauthorized will be recalled, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said yesterday.

PNP chief Lt. Gen. Dionardo Carlos said they would review the deployment of police bodyguards to determine whether these were authorized or not.

“If there’s no authority behind the deployment, we will recall them because we have no such kind of authorized deployment,” Carlos said.

“We will make sure that those who have been given police security escorts or detail have the authority, meaning, the police are authorized to be deployed as such,” Carlos said, citing the Alunan Doctrine that President Duterte invoked several times in the past.

The doctrine limits the number of a politician’s armed guards.

It considers two or more armed men as a private army that should be disarmed by the government.

Carlos said after the review, the PNP would deploy police escorts based on the Commission on Elections’ directive.

Carlos said the National Task Force for the Dismantling of Private Armed Groups is currently accounting and looking for private armed groups and parties that are likely to employ their services.

“We will focus on those areas with our area police commands and they are tasked to take action against private armed groups, insurgents and terrorist groups,” Carlos said.