Cops are not politicians' shoppers, nannies - Verzosa

MANILA, Philippines -Police officers who will be deployed to act as security escorts of politicians should not be ordered to accompany the politician’s wife to the grocery or bring the politician’s children to school, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Jesus Verzosa said yesterday.

He said the sole responsibility of police officers detailed as security escorts is to ensure the safety of their charge. If the police escort can leave the politician for another task, then the politician does not really need a police escort, Verzosa said.

Verzosa said the PNP might recall the police officers from the politicians and assign them to other candidates.

Chief Superintendent Lina Sarmiento, director of the PNP-Police Security and Protection Group (PSPG), said voters can help police monitor if politicians are maintaining private armed groups or otherwise violating election laws by using mobile phone cameras to capture evidence that would stand in court.

She said the voters can send the photos to the PNP through PNP TXT 2920.