10 Senate bets receive police escorts

Ten senatorial candidates from the administration’s Team Unity and the Genuine Opposition (GO) were given police security after they showed proof that they had credible threats to their lives, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said yesterday.

The senatorial candidates who were given police security include Michael Defensor, Prospero Pichay, Luis "Chavit" Singson and Ralph Recto of Team Unity; Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III, Panfilo Lacson and Manuel Villar of Genuine Opposition and independent candidate Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan.

Chief Superintended Romeo Hilomen, chief of the PNP Police Security and Protection Office (PSPO), said they are still validating the application of administration senatorial candidate Cesar Montano for security escort.

Hilomen said the 10 senatorial candidates have proven the threat on their lives warranted police protection during the campaign.

"These are high profile people. There is a possibility that some ordinary people who wanted to be famous overnight will harm these candidates," he said.

Hilomen said each of the candidates would be allowed two to three police security escorts, depending on the level of threat on the principal.

According to Hilomen, 30 to 40 other candidates have applied for security.

He said there are about 60 congressmen currently being protected by the PSPO and he is expecting more requests, considering the proximity of the local elections.

PNP spokesman Chief Superintendent Samuel Pagdilao clarified the policemen assigned to the regional, provincial and municipal commands are prohibited to serve as bodyguards of candidates during the election period.

He said police officers are tasked to implement the gun ban and maintain peace and order during elections.

Pagdilao said requests for security detail are endorsed to PSPO as a matter of procedure, in accordance with the guidelines set by the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

Any request for police escorts should be approved by the Comelec and PNP chief Director General Oscar Calderon before the actual deployment.

Hilomen added the PNP will pull out all the police escorts of Filipino-Chinese businessmen after the May 14 elections.

He said wealthy traders could still avoid being targets of kidnapping by hiring well-trained civilian security officers who had undergone police training.

"The PNP will not recommend or endorse any civilian security agencies, they have to advertise themselves to wealthy families," Hilomen added.

In some cases, Hilomen pointed out some wealthy individuals make more requests for additional security since having several police bodyguards is also a status symbol.

Last July, the PNP launched a program that would provide security training for civilians who wanted to work as bodyguards for VIPs.

Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno said the VIP security program is aimed to professionalize the security industry while at the same time enable the PNP to utilize its personnel for actual police duties and "bring back the dignity of the police."

Puno earlier urged the PNP to pull out some of its police personnel assigned as bodyguards to politicians.