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MANILA—The country's top cop on Tuesday warned policemen against moonlighting as police escorts to businessmen and other personalities.

Speaking on DZMM, Philippine National Police chief Director General Oscar Albayalde said only diplomats and visiting ambassadors are allowed to have police escorts upon request.

" 'Yun pong mga ganyang klaseng detail, dapat po may clearance mula sa Highway Patrol. Meron pong specific written request. Usually binibigyan po natin diyan 'yung mga visiting ambassadors and other VIP na nanggagaling sa ibang bansa. 'Yun lang po ang mga binibigyan natin usually. 'Yun pong mga nagsusugal, I'm sure hindi po pupwede 'yun," he said.

He also said businessmen may request for policemen as security personnel and not as police escorts.

"Pwede po 'yan sa negosyante as security pero hindi po as escort, 'yung nakamotorsiklo," Albayalde said, adding that policemen who will be assigned as escorts to diplomats and visiting ambassadors do not receive additional pay as it is part of their duty.

"Part po ng duty niya. Kung ang duty po niya ay mag-escort, 'yun po ang kanyang dapat na ginagawa."

Albayalde warned that moonlighting as police escorts is prohibited.

"Moonlighting po 'yun, gaya po nu'ng mga nag-e-escort sa patay, meron pong ganu'n. Ipinagbawal na po actually 'yan, 'yung mga nag-e-escort escort na ganyan, matagal na pong bawal 'yan. Kaya po 'yung iba, makikita niyo, mga barangay na lang ang nag-e-escort," he explained.

Embassies are also required to send a written request to the PNP headquarters before police escorts can be assigned to their diplomats and guests.

"Mayroon pong written request or meron pong sulat, usually 'yung mga embahada kung mayroon po silang bisita na darating, susulat po 'yan sa atin sa Philippine National Police sa national headquarters," Albayalde added.

Last week, photos of Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade confronting two alleged members of the Highway Patrol Group (HPG) who were escorting some Korean nationals circulated online.

According to the Department of Transportation (DOT), the escorts, riding their motorcycles, cut in front of Tugade's vehicle.

The DOT later clarified the two escorts were only using HPG vests but are not members of the HPG. The agency is now investigating the identity of said escorts.