MANILA (PNA) – Knowing the nature of work of the President, Senator Gregorio ‘Gringo’ Honasan on Wednesday advised President Benigno Aquino III to use sirens on special occasions specially when he is in a hurry to perform his duty as the country’s leader.

”My unsolicited advice, he should use sirens on certain occasion specially when he is in a hurry not only because of the security aspect but because of the expediencies of his job. He should reach in the fastest and most secured way his place of destination because he is needed by majority of our countrymen,” Honasan said in a phone patch media interview.

Honasan said the President can apply a ‘leadership by example’ in more important ways.

”This leadership by example is good but as what we have seen in the past weeks, his decision not to use sirens has affected his official functions,” Honasan said.

”If we will impose this literally and the public will suffer, we should put it into perspective. Having been a security officer for so many times, I know the serious security consideration of using the siren,” he added.

In his inaugural speech last June 30, the President announced the ban on the use of sirens. Since then, even US ambassador to the Philippines Harry Thomas has stopped using sirens.

”Well, the work of a US ambassador is far different from the work of a President of the Republic of the Philippines,” Honasan clarified.

”It is okay for a US ambassador not to use siren. In fact, the Filipino in other countries should be treated the same just like the treatment we give to the Americans in our country. There is no privileges,” he further explained. (PNA)