Palace to retain Cory's security detail until Aquino family lets them go

MANILA, Philippines - Police Inspector Mel Mamaril, who served as one of security aides of the late President Corazon Aquino for the last 23 years, disclosed yesterday that he and the other security escorts would remain with the Aquino family until the relatives of the former president decide to let them go.

Mamaril reported yesterday to the office of the Presidential Protection Unit (PPU) at the Presidential Security Group (PSG). Members of PPU are personnel of the Philippine National Police’s Police Security Protection Group (PSPG) but assigned to the PSG.

“According to my orders, I will remain until released by the Aquino family,” said Mamaril, who was one of the few privileged to speak at the necrological services of Mrs. Aquino at the Manila Cathedral last Tuesday.

The PNP-PSPG had pulled out three security escorts of Mrs. Aquino last June 22, namely, Senior Police Officer 4 Crispin Corpuz, SPO3 Macario Pangilinan, and P03 Nemesio Raclay, according to the former president’s daughter Kris Aquino in an earlier interview.

Malacañang claimed that it did not pull out any of the security personnel of Mrs. Aquino, but also apologized for the apparent misunderstanding between the family and the PNP-PSPG.

Mamaril and Corpuz reiterated yesterday that there was no pullout but only an accounting of all personnel of the PSPG. The Aquino family also understood the procedure of the PSPG, Mamaril said.

“We are able to explain to them clearly what happened,” he said.

He said he also expects the family not to hold on to them very long.

He said he had also started preparing his retirement papers since he is due to retire in January next year.

Mamaril, who served under the People Power icon from the start of her presidency, recalled the caring treatment he got from her.

“She (Mrs. Aquino) was like a mother to me,” he said.

Corpuz said he was very grateful for how the Aquino family treated their security personnel.

“They (Aquinos) treated us like family,” he said.