Philippine National Police chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. has ordered an investigation into reports that police personnel escorted a van that carried Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa out of the Senate building last Thursday.
In a statement on Sunday, Nartatez said the PNP leadership did not authorize any covert assistance or special movement operation for Dela Rosa, a former PNP chief, when he left the Senate premises.
Pasay City police chief Col. Joselito de Sesto earlier said he was aboard a white police van that exited the Senate building at the same time as a black van carrying Dela Rosa.
De Sesto denied being part of a convoy, saying it was “purely coincidental” that his vehicle left the premises alongside the black van.
“Let me be absolutely clear: the Philippine National Police does not operate on blind because the integrity of our institution is at stake,” Nartatez said.
“While we have received the initial clarification from the Pasay City police chief, I have already directed concerned investigative units to conduct an independent review of the logbooks, CCTV (closed-circuit television) feeds, and radio dispatches from that morning,” he added.
Nartatez said he also ordered investigators to secure deployment logs and other records relevant to the inquiry.
The PNP chief vowed that any police officer found to have committed an infraction would be held accountable, if supported by evidence.
“If the investigation reveals that there was any unauthorized coordination, false reporting, or logistical support given to evade legal processes, those involved will face the full brunt of administrative and criminal sanctions,” Nartatez said.
“As the Chief of the PNP, I categorically state that the national leadership had no prior knowledge of, nor did it authorize any logistical assistance for, the departure of Senator Dela Rosa from the Senate premises,” he added.
Nartatez stressed that police deployment around the area was intended only for public safety, crowd control, and perimeter security following the shooting incident.
He said the PNP remains a professional force and would not take part in clandestine escorts or political operations.
“The PNP remains a highly professional, apolitical organization loyal to the Constitution and the rule of law. We do not participate in clandestine escorts or partisan maneuvers,” Nartatez said.
“If any individual unit or officer acted outside of our official mandates to facilitate a departure under the guise of regular deployment, they did so entirely on their own accord,” he added.