INTERIOR Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. yesterday said police officers moonlighting as escorts for Chinese operators of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) firms will be charged if found guilty.
Abalos reminded police officers that such acts are illegal.
“If there are (policemen providing escorts to POGO operators), that is completely unauthorized and we will make sure that we will look into it, even (if it involves) IAS (PNP Internal Affairs Service) (agents). Charges will be filed against these personnel,” said Abalos.
Former Senator Panfilo Lacson, who is a former PNP chief, on Wednesday posted on X (formerly Twitter) that the PNP should look into reports that some policemen are working on the side as escorts of Chinese POGO operators.
“This may explain why even during office hours, too many luxury vehicles zigzag through heavy traffic while motorcycle cops push motorists away to clear their passage.
Shameless!” Lacson twitted.
Abalos said he has already given orders as early as last year that police personnel should not provide escort services to POGO operators because they have more important functions to attend to.
“We need our police for important matters, including the coming (Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan) elections…There is no room for that (escorting of POGO operators). That’s illegal. If there are, we will make sure… they will be dismissed,” said Abalos.
PNP spokeswoman Col. Jean Fajardo, in the same press briefing, said the PNP is already looking into Lacson’s disclosure.
“The PNP is already looking into this report and the HPG (Highway Patrol Group) (has) committed earlier that they will submit an official report,” said Fajardo.
Fajardo said HPG officials have denied that any of their personnel are involved in the malpractice.
“They are denying that any of their PNP personnel are involved in this alleged escorts pertaining to the POGO operators and players. But just the same, they will submit their official findings,” said Fajardo.
