PNP chief: Character carries weight in evaluation of applications for police escorts

A person's character carries weight in the Philippine National Police's evaluation on applications for security escorts from the PNP ranks, PNP Chief Oscar Albayalde said Wednesday.

Albayalde was addressing the case of brothers Erwin, Ben, and Raffy, and Raffy’s wife Jocelyn Tulfo, whose police and military escorts were all ordered removed by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Armed Forces leaders.

The pullout happened in the aftermath of the incident wherein Erwin lashed out expletives at retired Army Commanding General and Social Welfare and Development Secretary Rolando Bautista after the latter did not respond to Erwin's request for an interview on his radio program.

The PNP is under the jurisdiction of the DILG.

“It doesn't mean that when they reapply, their application will be approved. There will be an evaluation on the status and character of the person and the level of threat on his or her life,” Albayalde told GMA News Online.

“Nothing bars them from reapplying if they wish to, even if they are blacklisted. But [the] approval of their application is another thing,” Albayalde added.

The Philippine Military Academy Alumni Association, Inc. (PMAAAI) has already threatened to file charges against Erwin before the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board, saying that his remarks against Bautista were crude, offensive words, and contrary to responsible and credible journalism.

Tulfo, a known supporter of President Duterte, has already apologized for his remarks on Bautista. — MDM, GMA News