(INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / NI脩O JESUS ORBETA)
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� 鈥淐amouflaging鈥� or matching the attire of campaign rally participants has been a normal practice among police personnel tasked to ensure public safety during such events, according to the Philippine National Police (PNP).
PNP Public Information Office chief Col. Randulf Tua帽o鈥檚 statement came after the Davao City police clarified issues on the 鈥渦nauthorized鈥� circulation of a memorandum tasking its personnel to ensure the safety of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during a campaign rally in the region.
鈥淲e always have intel operatives camouflaging and matching the attire of participants who attend such activities. All activities, including regular rallies not attended by any politicians, we always have intel operatives in camouflage,鈥� Tua帽o said in Filipino in a press briefing on Monday.
鈥淚f you remember there have been reports where police or soldiers getting mauled if it is found out that they are PNP or AFP [Armed Forces of the Philippines] members,鈥� he added.
A memorandum instructing Davao police personnel 鈥渢o wear civilian clothes with a touch of red (without firearms)鈥� during the Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas rally circulated online over the weekend.
Israelito Torreon, the lawyer of televangelist and detained Kingdom of Jesus Christ founder Apollo Quiboloy posted a copy of this memorandum on social media and questioned its content.
鈥淚 pity our policemen brothers, they were made to attend BBM鈥檚 rally [Bongbong Marcos鈥檢 rally],鈥� he wrote.
鈥淩ead Paragraph 4: 鈥淎ll detailed PNP Personnel must wear civilian attire with a touch of red (without firearms)鈥� What鈥檚 the meaning of this? If you turn the police to rallyists what will they do if trouble erupts? Punch others?鈥� he said.
In response, Davao City Police Office acting director Col. Hansel Marantan said his office 鈥渞emains an apolitical and non-partisan organization committed solely to ensuring public safety and security.鈥�
He explained that the issuance of the document complied with the request of Davao Police Regional Office (PRO 11) to augment 55 police personnel to the Presidential Security Command 鈥渁s inner security鈥� during Marcos鈥� scheduled visit to Davao del Norte for the rally.