Three escort cops nabbed

Three heavily armed men of the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) were arrested by operatives of the Western Police District (WPD) after their presence created panic among guests and staff of a Malate hotel yesterday morning.

Officials of the Legaspi Tower Hotel along Roxas Boulevard called for WPD assistance at around 8 a.m., reporting the presence of men in civilian clothes bearing long and short firearms roaming the hotel premises.

Composite teams of the WPD’s mobile patrol and Special Weapons and Tactics rushed to the hotel and confronted the armed men.

An encounter was aborted after the armed men surrendered peacefully. They introduced themselves as members of the PNP-SAF based at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig.

Seized from the group were a M-16 Baby Armalite, one Galil rifle, one M203 grenade rifle, two Beretta pistols and several magazines.

The SAF officers, identified as PO1 Jamaron Sandag, SPO1 Ruben Cordova and PO1 Alejandro Mesa, were brought to WPD headquarters for tactical interrogation, together with a businessman they were allegedly protecting and his driver.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Angelo Reyes rushed to the WPD headquarters and personally conducted an investigation into the incident.

The SAF men admitted acting as bodyguards and security escorts of the businessman, claiming they were sent on a confidential mission by their superiors.

Cordova, acting as spokesman of the group, said they did not intend to carry their high-powered firearms inside the hotel, but were prompted to do so when hotel guards asked them to deposit their car key.

Cordova said they could not afford to leave the car key with the hotel desk and risk losing the weapons inside the car. He said they changed to civilian clothes when they entered the hotel so as not to alarm hotel clients.

WPD-General Assignment Section chief Superintendent Arturo Paglinawan said administrative charges could initially be filed against the erring SAF personnel for carrying heavy firearms while not in proper uniform.

He said it is up to their superiors to sanction them for providing "escort services" to a civilian.

Newly appointed PNP chief Deputy Director General Edgar Aglipay has ordered an investigation into the incident.

"They will be investigated. If it is found that their presence in the area is illegal, then there will be a conduct of summary dismissal proceedings. The immediate commanders will also be investigated," he said.

Aglipay warned all police personnel to shape up or be shipped out to Corregidor for re-training if they do not stop in their illegal activities.

Just the other day he warned all policemen against offering escort services to influential or wealthy people, following the recent arrest of two police officers who accompanied a wanted Filipino-American involved in a car accident that killed presidential adviser Nestor Ponce Jr.

All escort services should be authorized by the higher headquarters, and are prohibited if made in private and personal capacities, Aglipay said. – With Christina Mendez