Police escorts need Comelec approval

Acting Cebu Provincial Police Office director Carmelo Valmoria said politicians who plan to ask for police escorts must first secure approval from the Commission on Elections.

Valmoria yesterday said that after the last day of filing of certificates of candidacy last March 29, some politicians approached him to ask for police escorts but he advised them to channel their request to the Commission on Elections office before he can grant them their request.

Valmoria yesterday explained that he cannot grant security escort to politicians not until these politicians get approval from Comelec.

However, he said that the granting of police escorts to politicians will still take time because a threat assessment will first be conducted before their request will be given consideration.

Although Comelec may grant any politician a maximum of five police escorts Valmoria said the CPPO cannot assign all its men for close-in personnel for these politicians as they have a limited number of personnel to man their police stations and centers.

He said that they can only give a maximum of two police escorts but he assured that policemen will be made available during rallies regardless of their political affiliations.

Since the headquarters also has limited personnel, he said that personnel to be reassigned as police escorts will be taken from police stations within the area where the said politician will campaign. - Flor Z. Perolina/BRP