4 Pasig SWAT members axed over ‘escort service’

MANILA, Philippines — Four members of the police Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team were relieved from their posts yesterday after they were photographed during a networking company’s private event in Pasig.

Eastern Police District director Brig. Gen. Wilson Asueta clarified that the SWAT personnel are from Pasig and not from Batangas, contrary to earlier reports.

Asueta said they are eyeing complaints against the representatives of the company for putting the SWAT team in a bad light.

Asueta said he instructed the EPD legal team to study if they could file cases against Prime Z Networking for the controversy it had caused.

“Because they posted online the picture of the SWAT officers they invited to their launching, our men received negative comments from the public,” Asueta told reporters.

He was referring to a photograph showing the four SWAT personnel in their uniforms and firearms, during the launching of the networking firm in Barangay San Antonio on June 22.

Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos has ordered an investigation after he received reports that a SWAT team was deployed as private escorts for the event.

Asueta said the SWAT personnel were on routine patrol in the area as part of security measures against criminals.

They were invited by a representative of the company and asked if they could have pictures taken with them, he said.

“They accepted the request and went to the lobby of the company’s building,” the EPD official said.

Asueta maintained that the police officers accepted the invitation in good faith as part of their community relations initiative.

“They were never hired as private escorts for the event,” he said.

Asueta said the policemen even refused the offer of the company to have snacks, adding they “left a contact number in case they needed police assistance.”

The SWAT personnel were unaware that the firm posted their picture on its social media page, he said.

As a result, a netizen criticized the presence of the police officers at a private event.

Despite their explanation, the SWAT personnel were relieved from their posts pending the result of an investigation.– Ed Amoroso