PNP recalls cops serving as security escorts to VIPs

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine National Police (PNP) recalled to headquarters 1,600 policemen serving as security escorts assigned to very important persons (VIPs) including government officials, private individuals and politicians.

Chief Superintendent Lina Sarmiento, director of the PNP-Police Security and Protection Group (PSPG), said the recall order was made in compliance with the resolution of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on providing security for individuals during the election period.

“The accounting of personnel assigned with the various VIPs, including government officials, private individuals and more particularly candidates in the forthcoming election, is in compliance with Comelec Resolution No. 8714,” Sarmiento said.

Sarmiento explained that Comelec Resolution 8714 canceled all orders issued for police security protection service with the start of the election period last Jan. 10.

“There is a need to account or inventory all PSPG personnel and without the necessary letter order, the personnel are not authorized anymore to serve as security detail to their respective VIPs. Officially their detail with their VIPs is fully terminated and they are now assigned back with their respective PSPG units,” Sarmiento said.

She said the PSPG is the unit of the PNP in charge of securing government officials, private individuals and politicians with threat on their lives.

Sarmiento had initiated the accounting of policemen assigned to VIPs. However, some politicians and sectors gave color to her program and viewed the effort as part of harassment against the political opposition.

During election period, Comelec is the only agency to decide on the assignment of police personnel serving as escorts to politicians and the transfer of policemen’s position.

The Comelec said that during the election period from Jan. 10 to June 9, there should be no transfers of public officials or employees, including teachers, to other government agencies or to other divisions or field offices of their current agencies without permission from the poll body.

Sarmiento said the accounting of PSPG personnel was meant to ensure that policemen are indeed reporting to their duty and not being used as private armed goons of politicians.

Those who will be tapped by the Comelec to protect certain individuals as security detail shall be in proper uniform in the performance of official security duties. Only candidates for mayor upwards will be provided with a security detail, and not more than two regular members of the PNP or AFP or NBI shall be detailed as security for each candidate. – With Paolo Romero