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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 'Tinatabig sila': Sotto asks police escorts to be more respectful to motorists

'Tinatabig sila': Sotto asks police escorts to be more respectful to motorists

Published Nov 20, 2025 05:11 pm
Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III has urged the leadership of the Philippine National Police (PNP) that members of the Police Security and Protection Group (PSPG) who escort or provide security to VIPs be given regular lectures and workshops on respect and proper decorum.
Senate President Vicente
Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III (Senate PRIB photo)
During the plenary deliberations on the proposed 2026 budget of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the PNP on Thursday, Nov. 20, Sotto said police escorts often drive motorists away, sounding their sirens repeatedly.
"May we request that you make them undergo regular lectures, reminders like workshop to be more polite and more proper decorum, respectful when they escort the VIPs," Sotto said.
He said that even he himself is sometimes pushed aside by escorts, even if his vehicle bears the protocol plate number 3 or number 7.
Sotto said that if this is happening to him, it is even worse for ordinary motorists. He added that while he can let the matter pass, it is unjust and causes frustration among motorists.
"Kasi pati ako minsan tinatabi ng mga hagad eh (Because even I am sometimes pushed aside by the escorts)... So not me. Ako na yun eh. Madali yun (That's me. It's alright with me). As a matter of fact, I can do with it," Sotto said.
"Pero ang mga kababayan natin, marami naiinis na tinatabig sila, tinatabi sila. Konting ano siguro, konting decorum, respectful (But our fellow citizens—many of them get annoyed when they are pushed aside. Just a little… maybe a bit of decorum, some respect)," he added.
According to Sen. Joseph Victor "JV" Ejercito, who defended the DILG’s proposed budget, PNP Chief Jose Melencio Nartatez agrees with Sotto’s suggestion.
Ejercito also said Nartatez noted that only nine (9) officials are now allowed to have escorts, compared to the previously long list.
These are the President, Vice President, Senate President, House Speaker, justices, Cabinet secretaries, and other officials in sensitive positions who genuinely require security escorts.
"So kung nag-escort sila, okay, pero respectful sila. Ika nga'y hindi sila sirena nang sirena sa mga dun sa mga wala naman magawa yung iba. Natra-traffic eh. May sinusundang ka rin eh, na-traffic din eh (So if they are escorting, that’s fine, but they should be respectful. They shouldn’t be constantly sounding their sirens at people who aren’t doing anything wrong. Traffic also builds up—you’re trying to follow someone, and it causes congestion too)," Sotto said.

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Philippine National Police (PNP) Senate President Vicente \"Tito\" Sotto III police escort VIPs
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