4 SWAT members relieved over 'presence' in firm's private event

By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan

June 27, 2024, 1:16 pm

MANILA – Four members of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team in Pasig City were relieved from their posts amid an ongoing investigation into their presence at a private event of a networking company in the city.

In a phone interview Thursday, Eastern Police District (EPD) director Brig. Gen. Wilson Asueta clarified that the involved SWAT members are from Pasig City and not from Batangas province, contrary to earlier reports.

"Andun sila sa station sa Pasig habang iniimbestigahan, SOP (standard operational procedures) lang naman para ma-formalize 'yung report (They are currently assigned at the Pasig City Police Station while they are being investigated. It's part of the SOP so we can formalize a report on it)," Asueta said.

An initial report showed the incident happened about 1 p.m. on June 22, when the SWAT team's patrol vehicle stopped in front of a bank along San Miguel Avenue in Barangay San Antonio.

A woman who was later identified as an employee of a nearby networking firm Prime Z approached one of the team's members, a certain "Police M/Sgt. Noche" who was then sitting at the back of the patrol vehicle, and asked him if they can take a picture with the SWAT team as they were holding an event for their opening.

The SWAT team accepted the request and went to the lobby of the firm's building where the picture-taking was held. They were then invited for snacks at the building's 24th floor but they refused, saying they needed to continue their mobile patrols.

The team provided a contact number to the company for police assistance purposes and left the place.

Asueta said the SWAT team was unaware that the photo was posted on social media using the company's Facebook account.

"Wala naman masama doon. Eh hindi nila alam yung picture pala na yun inilagay sa Facebook ng kumpanya at may nag comment. Namali yung interpretation hindi ba (There is nothing wrong with that. They were not aware that the picture was posted on the company's Facebook page and somebody commented. There was a misinterpretation)," Asueta added.

Asueta, however, the city's chief of police was not relieved over the incident.

Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. earlier ordered an investigation into the incident after his office received pictures of the SWAT team at the company's event. (PNA)

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