2 cops face dismissal for ‘moonlighting’ as Rep. Duterte’s escorts

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil holds a press conference at Camp Crame in Quezon City on Wednesday (May 7, 2025). Marbil confirmed that two police officers are under investigation for moonlighting as security escorts of Davao City 1st District Rep. Paolo Duterte. (PNA photo by Lloyd Caliwan)

MANILA, Philippines – Two police officers are facing possible sanction by the Philippine National Police (PNP) for reportedly moonlighting as security escorts of Davao City 1st District Rep. Paolo Duterte.

This was revealed by PNP chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil on Wednesday in a press briefing on the activation of the media action center and National Election Monitoring Action Center’s (NEMAC) at Camp Crame.

Marbil said the two police sergeants were unauthorized to escort Duterte.

He asked them to explain, but they opted to surrender their firearms and identification cards and went on AWOL (absent without official leave).

“They are not authorized (as police security), they were moonlighting (as bodyguards),” said Marbil, as he confirmed the ongoing investigation into their personnel over unauthorized police security deployment.

He added that these two police officers were identified alongside two Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) personnel in the video showing Duterte in an altercation in a Davao City establishment.

The two policemen, an executive master sergeant and a staff sergeant, were assigned to two police stations in Davao City.

Aside from the two cops, two other bodyguards were seen in the video, and Marbil confirmed that they are members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ (AFP) Philippine Air Force.

Marbil said the PNP was also looking at the accountability of the commanders of the two police officers.

“Sabi ko nga maliban kayo sa madidischarge ‘yung 2 pulis namin for moonlighting kasama ‘yung commanders nila (I said that except for you, our 2 police officers will be discharged for moonlighting, along with their commanders for allowing them, for not accounting,” Marbil said.

“Hindi mangyayari ang moonlighting kung hindi dadayain ang report nila (Moonlighting won’t happen if their report isn’t rigged). Once we file dishonesty, that’s perpetual disqualification from any government post. So ito ‘yung babala sa mga pulis natin (this is our warning to the police). Make sure to take your job religiously,” he added.

CCTV footage of the incident, now circulating online, reportedly shows the two officers present during the altercation, failing to take action or de-escalate the situation. /gsg