2 cops face raps for ‘moonlighting’ as Rep. Duterte’s bodyguards

Images grabbed from a video show a man, purportedly Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte and seemingly wielding a knife, assaulting another, already submissive man at Barrio Obrero bar in the lawmaker’s home city. The video also showed several people witnessing the incident but doing nothing to stop the aggressor.

MANILA, Philippines — Two police officers face potential administrative cases for dishonesty after allegedly “moonlighting” as bodyguards for Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte, Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Gen. Rommel Marbil said.

The two police officers were identified alongside two Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) personnel in a video circulating online showing Duterte in an altercation in a Davao City establishment, according to Marbil.

“With the two police officers, they are not authorized, they are moonlighting. They surrendered their firearms as well as their IDs, but they went AWOL (absent without official leave),” Marbil said in Filipino during an interview with reporters at Camp Crame on Wednesday.

“We will file dishonesty (charges). Once we file dishonesty, that’s perpetual disqualification from any government post,” the PNP chief added.

READ: Pulong Duterte on assault complaint: It’s up to Davao voters

Marbil did not expound on when the two police officers went AWOL.

According to a memorandum from the Davao City Police Office to the Police Regional Office 11, the officers involved were one staff sergeant and one executive master sergeant assigned to the city police’s seventh and 12th substations, respectively.

“They were subjected to pre-charge investigation facing administrative offense of grave irregularities in the performance of duty particularly acting as bodyguards for a public official without proper authority,” the memo read.

The PNP chief also stressed that they were likewise investigating the two police officers and their immediate superiors.

However, the PNP chief stressed that they were also investigating the two police officers and their immediate superiors.

Marbil cited the dismissal of 11 Special Action Force (SAF) personnel last November after two officers were found moonlighting as private security for a Chinese national.

READ: Marbil sacks 11 SAF officers for misconduct in moonlighting case

“Some fake their reports. Every day, we submit reports and account for our personnel. Moonlighting will not happen if they don’t fake their reports,” the PNP chief said.

“So, this is our warning to our police: make sure to take your job religiously,” he stressed. /das/cb