14 applicants ask Comelec for police escorts

CEBU, Philippines - With the start of the election period last Monday, 14 individuals have applied to the Commission on Election-7 for police escorts, said Comelec-7 regional director Rey Rene Buac.

Starting last Monday also, the Comelec has already recalled the police escorts of some politicians, and issued them a maximum of two Temporary Security Details pending the approval of their application by the Committee on the Ban of Firearms and Security Personnel.

Buac said that of the 14, most are politicians while two are businessmen.

He said that together with Chief Supt. Lani-O Nerez, director of Police Regional Office-7, they will deliberate today whose applications will be approved. The applicants presented in their application their reasons as to why they should be given security detail.

Buac said that they will evaluate whether there is really a threat or not.

Buac said that the applicant has to pay P5,000 for the application fee, an amount which is non-refundable if the application is not approved.

Buac explained that politicians can only be detailed with police escorts from Monday up to the 30th day they were detailed, but if for example they filed their application this week and are disapproved after evaluation, their two remaining escorts will be also recalled.

He added that if circumstances surrounding the security situation of an applicant changes and becomes more threatened, the applicant has the option to re-file and pay another P5,000 application fee.

Buac said they will again evaluate the applicant’s situation and deliberate again if the application will be approved or not.

The applicants file their application to the Joint Security Control Center of the Comelec-7.

Congressmen down to barangay councilmen can file application to Comelec-7 while from senators and up can file at the main Comelec office in Manila, he said. – Niña G. Sumacot/BRP   (FREEMAN NEWS)