Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III on Thursday criticized the conduct of police escorts for VIPs, saying their behavior on the road inconveniences ordinary motorists.
During the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) budget deliberations, Sotto called for regular training sessions for police escorts.
“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,” he said.
Sotto recounted personal experiences, noting that even he had been abruptly asked to give way.
“Kasi pati ako minsan pinatabi ng mga hagad eh. So not me. Ako yun eh. Madali yun. As a matter of fact, I can do with it,” he said, stressing that the concern is for ordinary citizens.
“Pero ang mga kababayan natin, marami naiinis na tinatabig sila, tinatabi sila. Konting ano siguro, konting decorum, respectful.”
He also criticized the traffic disruptions caused by aggressive 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,” Sotto added, urging law enforcement to balance duty with public courtesy.