PNP chief Marbil wants 2 SAF members moonlighting as guards dismissed

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police General Rommel Francisco Marbil wants the two arrested Special Action Forces (SAF) members allegedly moonlighting as security guards of a Chinese citizen dismissed from the service.

“Hindi po tama. It affects ‘yung PNP as a whole and remember ang hinahabol namin is to bring back our dignity,” said Marbil in Jun Veneracion’s “24 Oras” report on Friday.

(This is wrong because it affects the PNP as a whole. We’re trying to restore our dignity.)

“Gusto ko dismissal hindi po kami papayag na suspension lang. Kung sino po talaga nagkamali, then go go for dismissal. Iyon po ang utos ko sa IAS [Internal Affairs Service],” he added.

(I want them dismissed and not suspended. Whoever is behind this should be expelled.)

Over the weekend, two SAF personnel were apprehended following a fistfight, with one of them sustaining wounds on his forehead.

The police officers, who were deployed in Zamboanga City, admitted to working as personal bodyguards of a Chinese national in Alabang, Muntinlupa City.

Nine SAF personnel are under investigation due to the incident.

Meanwhile, the apprehended cops are now under restrictive custody at the SAF Headquarters at Fort Sto. Domingo in Santa Rosa City, Laguna. They underwent a preliminary investigation for alarm and scandal charges at the Muntinlupa City Prosecutor's Office earlier.

GMA Integrated News sought comment, but they declined.

“Meron tayong nakitang talagang lapses, deliberate na pagkakamali pero imbestigahan natin. Kapag may makita pa tayong mas malaking maisasama diyan wala naman tayong sasantuhin diyan,” said SAF Director Police Brigadier General Mark Pespes.

(We are seeing lapses and deliberate mistakes, but we’re still investigating. We will not tolerate it should the investigation show there are higher officials involved.)

The seven other police officers involved in the matter will also be put under the custody of the facility.

According to the rules of the PNP, only the Police Security Protection Group is authorized to provide security to authorized individuals. —Sundy Locus/VBL, GMA Integrated News