The Philippine National Police (PNP) has launched an internal probe and is preparing administrative charges against two officers accused of unauthorized moonlighting as personal security for Davao City 1st District Representative Paolo Duterte.
PNP Chief General Rommel Francisco Marbil confirmed the development, emphasizing the institution’s commitment to cracking down on misconduct and unauthorized side engagements by uniformed personnel.
The officers, whose names were not disclosed, were identified in a viral video alongside two members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), appearing to act as part of Duterte’s personal security team—despite having no official assignment or clearance to do so.
“These officers had no approval, no orders—they were moonlighting,” Marbil told reporters at Camp Crame. “They turned in their service firearms and police IDs, but they have since gone AWOL (absent without official leave). That’s already a serious offense.”
Marbil said the PNP will pursue administrative charges for dishonesty, a move that carries a penalty of perpetual disqualification from public service.
The timeline of their absence and any coordination with superiors remains under investigation. Marbil also said that not only the officers but also their direct supervisors are being scrutinized to determine whether negligence or complicity played a role.
This isn’t the first time the PNP has dealt with this kind of breach. Marbil cited the recent dismissal of 11 members of the elite Special Action Force (SAF) after two of them were caught working as unauthorized private security for a Chinese national.
“The root of this problem is falsified daily reports,” he noted. “We rely on unit commanders to verify the presence and duty status of their men. Some manipulate their rosters to cover up moonlighting activities. That ends now.”
Marbil warned that the PNP would intensify random audits and crackdown measures. “This is a clear message to all our personnel: your job is not a side hustle. You serve the public, not private interests.”
As the investigation unfolds, the PNP is coordinating with the AFP to determine the circumstances surrounding the involvement of military personnel in the unauthorized security arrangement.
The incident raises broader concerns over the exploitation of uniformed personnel for private interests and underscores the ongoing struggle within the security sector to enforce internal discipline and transparency.