INQ7: Public airs anger over VIP security escorts, sirens

**ghosthunter** · May 22nd, 2005 11:54 AM

http://news.inq7.net/nation/index.ph...story_id=37671

[SIZE=4]Public airs anger over VIP security escorts, sirens[/SIZE]

Posted 04:58am (Mla time) May 21, 2005
By Armand N. Nocum
Inquirer News Service

Editor's Note: Published on page A1 of the May 21, 2005 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer

THE MOTORING public has had enough.

Yesterday, irate listeners bombarded a dzBB radio program with complaints against the wanton use by top government officials of blinkers, sirens and security escorts to weave their way through traffic in the metropolis.

The listeners suggested that top government officials could do the public a favor by taking a chopper or better yet, take flight with Darna.

What got the ire of listeners of a morning radio program at dzBB was a complaint from a motorist that security escorts of Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez pointed their guns at him when he overtook their two-car convoy that was traveling slowly from Edsa to White Plains in Pasig.

The on-air discussion between the caller—a certain Jo—and Ding Roman, a security aide of Gonzalez, triggered a barrage of complaints from motorists who claimed they too were victimized by abusive security escorts who are supposed to be "public servants" as the officials they guard.

Roman was insisting that upon seeing a convoy of government men, motorists should do well to get out of the way. But this comment only resulted in radio anchor Ali Sotto blurting out at Roman: "You speak as if you own the road."

Still, Roman stuck to his guns, saying this was the practice and when co-anchor Arnold Clavio disagreed, Roman said: "If Arnold is saying that, I dare him to do it to the (Presidential Security Group) and we will see what they will do to him."

When Clavio asked what he meant to say, Roman declined to answer. Sotto said Roman could be saying that the PSG would shoot down a motorist who gets in the way.

He then dared the caller to sue him before the DOJ.

Listeners who sent their comments by text message said that like everyone else, non-government men are also in a hurry. They advised officials of government and their escorts to leave their homes early so they will not be late for their meetings.

Contacted by the Inquirer, Gonzalez said he was reading when the incident reportedly happened at 9 a.m. last Thursday.

He also denied knowing Roman, explaining he only knows his escorts by their faces. But he denied that his men pointed their guns at the motorist.

"If people are complaining about the sirens and blinkers, then all Cabinet men should take them off," he said, adding that compared to other Cabinet men who are escorted by up to five-car convoys and motorcycle policemen, his one-car escort is considered acceptable.

He said although it is his nature to want to be treated as if he was "above ordinary mortals," he said Cabinet men do need escorts because they have work schedules "that is not usual to ordinary people ... who can dictate their time."

As to the suggestion that they take a helicopter so as not to burden ordinary motorists, Gonzalez shrugged it off as "a very ridiculous" proposal.

**the_wildthing** · May 22nd, 2005 12:08 PM

It is a crime to cut in between PSG escorts when the president is being escorted, but I doubt if it is extended to cabinet members.

What is not clear to me is whether the caller got in between the two vehicles or passed both of them...

**wilcats** · May 22nd, 2005 12:36 PM

levhe yang mga security escorts nayan! kala mo kung sino may baril ln g kse!

**zechs** · May 22nd, 2005 12:43 PM

Originally Posted by ghosthunter

"..I dare him to do it to the (Presidential Security Group) and we will see what they will do to him."

wow...talaga lang ha? just shows you how POWER HUNGRY this people are. last time i had an encounter with that, the guard/bodyguard or whatever pointed his finger at me, mumbling under his breath.. "to serve and to protect", very ironic dont you think?

**Psylocke** · May 22nd, 2005 12:43 PM

Yes they should NOT point their guns at motorists...

**nugundam93** · May 22nd, 2005 12:49 PM

they act like they own the road. do they? heck no. in fact, the tax WE pay go towards giving THEM their paycheck.

to reiterate my words of wisdom...

"there's only so much damage an armored vehicle can withstand before giving in..."

and...

"there's always a bigger weapon..."

i just feel so evil today. i hope gma7 does an expose regarding this one.

**bender** · May 22nd, 2005 01:10 PM

I hate this practice. i often encounter them in ortigas, santolan intersection. after waiting 5-10 mins for the green light, they would suddenly swooped in and force us to wait another 5 minutes. i also saw them trying to swoop in last friday along edsa. sobrang traffic na, they were trying to clear a lane pa. sobrang arrogante talaga.

**nugundam93** · May 22nd, 2005 01:19 PM

and just reading the comments above regarding a work schedule not common to ordinary people...

so does that also give "wang-wang a$$hole powers" to those people sa graveyard shift ng call centers? after all, IT IS a work sched not common to ordinary people. and same thing with surgeons, docs, etc...

daming butas ang palusot mo gonzalez.

**quiksie** · May 22nd, 2005 01:21 PM

mali din ang katwiran ni gonzales. Pati mga tauhan niya.
One time nangyari na sa akin ito. Babain na ako nun PSG kasi binusinahan ko lang sila along katipunan ito nangyari

**Psylocke** · May 22nd, 2005 01:28 PM

Originally Posted by nugundam93

they act like they own the road. do they? heck no. in fact, the tax WE pay go towards giving THEM their paycheck.

to reiterate my words of wisdom...

"there's only so much damage an armored vehicle can withstand before giving in..."

and...

"there's always a bigger weapon..."

i just feel so evil today. i hope gma7 does an expose regarding this one.

No one's protecting our interests. What we need is an EQUALIZER.