Noy using antiquated presidential car - lawmaker

MANILA, Philippines - Being at the head of the all-out campaign against corruption, President Aquino remains vulnerable to security threats and it does not help that he and his protective escorts use antiquated and obsolete presidential vehicles, a senior administration lawmaker warned yesterday.

“With a President who stops at traffic red lights, who has aversion on the use of wang-wang (siren) while waging an all-out war against corruption against powerful government officials at the same time, I’m deeply concerned over President Aquino especially because until now, he is still using an antiquated presidential car,” Western Samar Rep. Mel Senen Sarmiento said.

Sarmiento is vice chairman of both the House committee on national defense and security, and the House committee on public order and safety.

He said security challenges have dramatically changed, especially with the growing sophistication of various methods available to terrorists and other threat groups in carrying out possible assassination scenarios such as roadside bombing and even possible suicide attacks.

“Our aging presidential fleet was only designed to be bullet proof. But with the current modus operandi of terrorists using IEDs (improvised explosive devices), I believe our presidential fleet cannot fully protect the passengers inside it,” Sarmiento said.

He said with the heated political climate, especially with Aquino’s determination to unseat Chief Justice Renato Corona and demand accountability from former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, some groups might take advantage of the situation and try to inflict harm on him to advance certain political objectives.

He said that while it is remote that Corona or Arroyo would even think about harming President Aquino, other groups who have no other agenda but to sow chaos and destroy the country’s democracy might take advantage of the situation.

Sarmiento said the protocol for security practiced worldwide prefers to have constant motion of a security convoy to bring a VIP safely from points A to B and not to make unnecessary stops that would compromise its principal.

“Our President’s policy of no wang-wang when he uses the presidential car, and his strict orders to stop at every traffic signal when the light turns red, puts his life in greater risk,” Sarmiento said.

“Anyone can just slide a bomb underneath the President’s car during a traffic stop because he doesn’t want to beat red lights. This is already a security nightmare for the Presidential Security Group (PSG) but what really makes it even worse is the fact that the President’s car is not equipped with the proper armor to protect him from bomb attacks. He can be only protected from gun attacks but not from bombs and even possibly rocket attacks,” he said.

Sarmiento said the country’s presidential fleet has been deemed obsolete by international standards, and is no longer effective to protect the nation’s highest leader, or foreign dignitaries who are also considered high security risks when they visit the Philippines.

“It is quite alarming to learn that our presidential fleet has not been upgraded since the time of president Ramos. I learned that they are now unreliable due to frequent mechanical and electrical breakdowns. The condition was aggravated after the presidential fleet was flooded due to typhoon ‘Ondoy’ and it damaged most of the electrical parts and engine computer sensors,” he said.

He said the PSG said these vehicles are now in a “sorry” state, and considered outdated, especially in terms of security features, compared with presidential state cars used by leaders in other countries, particularly in the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) region.

Sarmiento said the importance of protecting the security of the President, as well as other visiting heads of state and dignitaries who also ride in the presidential fleet during their stay here, are under the country’s responsibility and should never be overlooked.