Marbil: No more police security for 'VIPs'

The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Thursday said that it has removed police security for “very important persons” or VIPs with its new policy.

PNP chief Police General Rommel Francisco Marbil told Dobol B TV in an interview that the policy adjustment was made as he assumed leadership in the police organization.

“When I started po ng pag-upo bilang Chief PNP, pinabago po namin yung tema doon sa binibigyan po ng  [Police Security and Protection Group] kasi it appears nagmo-moonlighting e,” Marbil said.

(When I started as Chief PNP, we changed the terms on giving [Police Security and Protection Group] services because it appears they are moonlighting.)

“Ang nakalagay po doon VIP and hindi po trabaho ng pulis to give VIP protection to anybody. Hindi po trabaho yan, ang trabaho po namin is to give security to people na threatened sa buhay nila,” he added.

(What is stated there is VIP and it is not the job of police to give VIP protection to anybody. That's not our job. Our job is to give security to people who are threatened for their lives.)

Marbil also pointed out that the Police Security and Protection Group (PSPG) should only provide service to individuals facing actual threats and not "perceived threats."

For example, Marbil said the PNP cannot give police security to wealthy individuals who think that their financial status makes them a target of violence.

“Hindi po ako natutuwa kasi last time I went to a hotel, this Chinese guy may security, ako nga wala e. Naka-t-shirt pa ng PSPG. How can we do this? Ang mas masama lang doon taga-buhat lang ng bag,” Marbil said.

(I'm not happy about it because last time I went to a hotel, this Chinese guy had security, but I didn't. They were wearing a PSPG t-shirt. How can we do this? Worse, they were just carrying his bag.)

Aside from people facing threats, Marbil said the PNP can also provide police security to high government officials. --VAL, GMA Integrated News