MANILA - Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Tuesday said he was ready to confront an official who was seen using a marked police vehicle as security escort for personal purposes.
Sotto said this in an exchange with former senator JV Ejercito, who shared on Twitter how he saw an official he did not identify who has "2 motorcycle escorts," a "back up and a marked police vehicle" just to go to the gym and have breakfast. Ejercito then replied: "Naku SP ang daming ganyan pa rin ngayon!"
Sotto was referring to the ongoing budget hearings in the Senate where heads of government agencies are expected to appear before lawmakers to justify their budget requests for 2021.Any person can also apply for a maximum of 2 police escorts from the Philippine National Police Police Security and Protection Group , depending on the result of a threat assessment.
But under a PNP Memorandum Circular issued in 2017, marked police vehicles and motorcycle security escorts can only be provided to the following officials:- Speaker of the House Representatives- other authorized government officials, foreign delegates during national events Ejercito did not publicly name who he was referring to, but said that those using police cars as part of their security detail should be ashamed because the Senate President himself does not even have a bodyguard.
"Kayo nga Senate President, walang security, walang drayber, walang staff! Sarili kayo nagmamaneho ng kotse niyo papunta Senado kahit trapik!" Ejercito said in his reply to Sotto's tweet.
Philippines Latest News, Philippines Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
WATCH: Neymar regrets 'acting like a fool' over Marseille red cardNeymar said he 'acted like a fool' following his red card against Marseille, but called on football officials to do more to combat discrimination after accusing Spanish defender Alvaro Gonzalez of racism.
Read more »
Public urged to dispose of used face masks properly - Manila BulletinEnvironment groups urged the public to learn the safe and proper disposal of used face masks.
Read more »