Terror threat good for security agencies

Private eyes and security agencies are having a field day.

While most other businesses are hurting because of the bombings in Metro Manila and Mindanao over the past few weeks, the Philippines Association of Detective and Protective Agency Operators (PADPAO) said the security business has never been better — thanks to the increased demand for security and detection services spawned by the continuing concern over terrorist threats nationwide.

PADPAO president and national chairman Ramon Bergado told The STAR yesterday that deployment of private security personnel significantly increased in Metro Manila’s establishments, such as malls and high-rise buildings.

"Because of the terrorist threats, we have registered a significant increase in requests for additional deployment of private security personnel in the past days," he said.

Bergado, who attended the weekly Ciudad Fernandina media forum in Greenhills, San Juan yesterday, also said the 300,000 private security guards now deployed in various assignments are actively assisting the Philippine National Police (PNP) and other law enforcement agencies in the government’s anti-terrorism campaign.

He said several member-agencies have deployed plainclothes civilian detectives in commercial centers to augment on-duty uniformed security personnel upon their clients’ request.

"We have civilian private detectives in malls and requests for personal private security escorts from some of our clients are mounting," Bergado said.

However, PNP Security Agency Group Supervision Division (SAGSD) chief Senior Superintendent Raul Bacalzo said that under the law, only the police through the PNP Security and Protection Office (PSPO) can provide security escorts to civilians, adding that this in done only on a case-to-case basis.

On the other hand, Bacalzo confirmed that the PNP Civil Security Group (CSG) has enlisted the assistance of private security personnel in the police’s efforts in detecting and thwarting possible terrorist attacks.

"While the police are ready for any eventuality, we have enlisted the help of the (PADPAO) personnel in police efforts in our anti-terrorism campaign," Bacalzo said.

Bacalzo added that special training to harness the skills of private security personnel in bomb detection and bomb handling is now being held, to give security guards "working knowledge about bombs and other forms of explosives, with the main focus on how to check (for) and detect them."

Meanwhile, Metro Manila’s mayors and their supporters gathered at Camp Crame yesterday to register their active participation in the country’s war on terrorism as Interior and Local Government Secretary Jose Lina Jr. rallied for public support for the country’s anti-terror drive.

The event was marred by a walkout by the Philippine-American Statehood Association as PASA head Ely Pamatong and his fatigue uniform-clad followers boycotted the meeting after Pamatong was censured by Lina. Pamatong and his followers also demanded Lina’s resignation after he limited Pamatong to a two-minute speech.

After an awkward silence, Lina led the assembled local executives and their supporters in singing Bayan Ko as Pamatong and the rest of the PASA group strode out of Crame’s multi-purpose center.

"Since our group despises terrorism and as we also abhor terrorism, we were invited to the PNP (headquarters) to attend the forum. That’s why we’re here," Pamatong said.

Later, Pamatong tried to appease his irate supporters, telling them to understand Lina’s position. "It is understandable, Lina is my contemporary and he is always by heart a communist sympathizer."