The Philippine National Police – Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG) on Saturday said it does not allow its officers to work as escorts for hire after a social media influencer claimed that her husband had hired a motorcycle cop to help her bypass traffic.
The HPG emphasized it “will not tolerate” its personnel acting as private traffic escorts for pay, as it goes against their protocols and regulations.
The agency is currently verifying whether any of their officers are involved in such activities.
The influencer’s claim was made on her Instagram Story, which has since expired, but screenshots were taken and shared by other users.
There were speculations that the escort may have been obtained through a politician, as some of them travel in convoys with police escorts.
In addition to security escorts, certain officials have numbered protocol plates, and uniformed personnel often show special treatment to people in power on the road.
“We will file the necessary cybercrime-related offenses [against] those individuals who will post any malicious statement that will malign/tarnish the image of the HPG and the possible criminal and administrative charges for our personnel,” the agency stated.
While it is against regulations, police officers, including those from the HPG, have been found working as unauthorized security escorts.
Last month, the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) announced the arrest of two members of the PNP Special Action Force (SAF) for an alarm and scandal case in Ayala-Alabang Village, Muntinlupa City.
The two policemen were also found providing escort security service to a Chinese national involved in Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (POGO).
Motorcycle and traffic enforcement personnel have also been involved in kidnapping incidents, where foreign nationals have been targeted after being flagged down.
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline PNP-HPG denies escort for hire scheme
