PNP says sorry to Aquino family for pullout of security escorts

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine National Police (PNP) apologized yesterday for the misunderstanding regarding the pullout of security escorts of the late former President Corazon Aquino and maintained that the Palace had no hand in it.

Chief Superintendent Lina Sarmiento, chief of the PNP Police Security and Protection Group (PSPG), said that the PNP can allow three police security personnel – Inspector Melchor Mamaril; Senior Police Officer 4 Crispin Corpuz and SPO3 Macario Pangilinan – to stay with the former first family even after the funeral.

“I would like to apologize to the members of the family for this misunderstanding, miscommunication,” Sarmiento said. “And we will consult with them even after the funeral if they still need the services of our personnel, we will gladly do so, allow them to continue performing security detail to members of the former first family.”

Sarmiento said she has not talked to Mrs. Aquino’s daughter, actress Kris Aquino.

“I hope I will be able to talk to her very, very soon so that I could also explain my side,” said Sarmiento.

There were reports that Malacañang apologized last Monday over an apparent foul-up in the security detail of Mrs. Aquino, which her youngest daughter Kris revealed in a tearful television interview Sunday.

Sarmiento noted that the move was meant to account for all the 700 PSPG members, who are providing security to VIPs, like former presidents, senators and congressmen.

“It was just unfortunate that this administrative procedure was misunderstood and (last Monday) I had the opportunity to talk with Sen. Noynoy Aquino and I explained to him that this is a procedure which is internal to the PSPG and the President has no knowledge about this procedure that we undertook,” said Lina.

She maintained that security personnel assigned with Mrs. Aquino were not recalled but were just transferred to another carrying unit within the PSPG.

Sarmiento said she had written letters to VIPs whose security escorts were recalled and that she had never sent any letter of recall to the security of Mrs. Aquino.

“I actually institutionalized a system in the PSPG whereby if the detail is terminated, I write a letter to the VIP informing the VIP that the detail of the protective security personnel is terminated effective such date. I sent letters of termination of detail and I would like to emphasize that in this particular case, I did not send any termination of detail,” she added.

PNP chief Director General Jesus Verzosa ordered an inquiry into the matter and Sarmiento submitted her explanation to the police chief, together with the affidavits of the personnel of the PSPG who were aware of what really transpired.

“The basis of the deployment of protective security detail is the level of threat. And the PNP is very objective about providing security personnel to different prominent officials who are authorized to be given protection,” said Sarmiento.

“No matter what party or color, especially if they are from the other side, all the more we will provide protection because if anything happens to them the administration will be blamed,” Sarmiento said in Filipino.