Senate President Urges Police Escorts to Uphold Respect and Proper Conduct

During the plenary session on the proposed 2026 budget for the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) held on Thursday, November 20, Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III urged the PNP leadership to conduct regular educational sessions focused on respect and proper decorum for members of the Police Security and Protection Group (PSPG) who provide security for VIPs.

Sotto highlighted concerns regarding the behavior of police escorts, particularly their frequent use of sirens which often disrupts normal traffic flow and inconveniences motorists. He shared, "Even I am sometimes pushed aside by escorts, although my vehicle carries protocol plate numbers 3 or 7. If this can happen to me, the experience must be far more upsetting for ordinary drivers."

Expressing empathy for frustrated commuters, Sotto emphasized the need for police escorts to adopt a more courteous approach. He stated, "Our fellow citizens often get irritated when being abruptly sidelined. A little bit of decorum and respect would go a long way in addressing these concerns."

Supporting this viewpoint, Senator Joseph Victor "JV" Ejercito, who defended the DILG’s proposed budget, relayed that PNP Chief Jose Melencio Nartatez concurs with Sotto’s recommendation. Ejercito also noted that current policy restricts security escorts to only nine high-ranking officials, including the President, Vice President, Senate President, House Speaker, justices, Cabinet secretaries, and other key figures who legitimately require protection.

Sotto further remarked, "It is acceptable for escorts to perform their duties, but they must be respectful and avoid excessive siren use, especially when it affects motorists uninvolved in the situation. Traffic congestion is a real issue, and awareness of this is necessary to maintain order and public goodwill."