Security for candidates, The high price of hiring guards

CEBU, Philippines - Candidates having bodyguards may feel secure while barnstorming the barangays but, unknown to the public, hiring private security personnel can be very costly.

The start of the election period also means the start for candidates to shell out huge amount for private guards if they are not included on the Commission on Elections’ list of bets allowed to have security details from the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Officials of two security companies told The FREEMAN that providing bodyguards for politicians is categorized as a special service considering the risky job that involves.

Hiring a private bodyguard, especially during the election season, would cost from P20,000 to P30,000 a month.

The price would also depend on who is the candidate and whether the place he is running is considered an area of concern by the Comelec.

An operations manager of one of the security agencies interviewed by The FREEMAN said they do not allow their personnel to carry guns outside their posts even if they are exempted and accredited by Comelec.

Unless the politicians would provide licensed guns to their bodyguards, the operations manager said they would not provide any guns since all their firearms are licensed under the name of their company.

Regulations

Hiring of private security personnel must also go with the Comelec gun ban.

Comelec regulations state that “members of privately-owned or -operated security, investigative, protective, or intelligence agencies are exempted from the gun ban provided a valid license to exercise security profession with duty detail order for security guards or special duty detail order for protection agents, and valid firearms license of the agency where they are employed.”

Based on the records of Comelec Cebu, of the nine applicants for security detail, only one, a candidate for city councilor, requested to hire private security personnel. The other eight applied for police escorts.

The Comelec, however, has yet to approve their applications.

Except for the president of the Philippines and other specified officials, all government officials are covered under Comelec Resolution 9561.

The resolution states that permits of all officials with security personnel or bodyguards are considered revoked during the 120-day election period.

If they wish to keep their security detail, they would need to get approval from the Comelec.

Arthur Patiga, provincial election assistant, said there have been a lot of inquiries from officials over security detail.

Given the high expenses of hiring a private bodyguard, Patiga said only one has pushed through with a request.

Atty. Ferdinand Gujilde, an election officer detailed at the Office of the Provincial Election Supervisor, explained that the Comelec is regulating the detail of police and military officers to certain officials so that more law enforcers would be able to maintain peace and order during the election period.

“We need more police officers for our election for maintenance of peace and order. They cannot just secure one person,” Gujilde said.

Threat assessment

According to Comelec regulations, candidates for election may request for security details but their applications are subject for approval following threat assessment by the PNP and the AFP.

If proven that there is indeed a need for a security detail, Gujilde said the Provincial Joint Security Control Center (PJSCC) will recommend the request to the Regional Joint Security Control Center (RJSCC) and to Comelec Manila, the approving authority.

PJSCC is made up of the Comelec, PNP, AFP and other law government agencies in the province.

Under the rules, members of the House of Representatives and incumbent governors can have at least two police escorts while other officials can have private security escorts.

Gujilde said that even if the assessment by the PNP and AFP would show that an official, who is not a governor or congressman, has threats to his life, the Comelec cannot bend what is already stated in the law.

“They are also equally capable of protecting you,” said Gujilde, referring to security details from private agencies.

PJSCC recently sent recommendation for approval of police escorts for Acting Governor Agnes Magpale, Cebu City south district Rep. Tomas Osmeña, first district Rep. Eddie Gullas, and sixth district Rep. Luigi Quisumbing.

Also forwarded for approval of security detail was the request of Cebu City Councilor Margot Osmeña.

RJSCC will provide a temporary security detail for the applicants while waiting for their applications’ approval by the Comelec’s Committee on the Ban of Firearms and Security Personnel.

Gujilde said temporary security details are provided for 30 days.   But in case the approval for the permanent request is delayed, he said the applicant can request for the temporary escort to be extended for another 15 days.

RJSCC earlier assigned a temporary security detail for Cebu 2nd district Rep. Pabling Garcia, 3rd district Rep. Pablo John Garcia, 4th district Rep. Benhur Salimbangon and 5th district Rep. Red Durano.

These legislators have requested for an extension since their requests for permanent security are still pending. — /LPM (FREEMAN)