News Update PRO7 bares new guidelines for protective security

CEBU CITY - The Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 in a forum Wednesday bared the new guidelines and procedures for those who are interested in availing of police security.

PRO-7 Operations and Plans Division Chief S/Supt. Ernesto Agas disclosed that the new course of action is based on the Philippine National Police (PNP) memorandum circular no.2010-009.

"The purpose of the new memorandum is to provide additional guidelines and procedures in the availment and deployment of protective security personnel (PSP) from the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the protection agents (PA) from accredited private detective agencies," said Agas.

He said that with the new memo, local chief executives such as governors and mayors can now have more than two escorts from the PNP, with the deployment of PA elements trained by the PNP.

"In the past, the governors and mayors, upon their written request, are only entitled with a maximum of two PSP. However, this can now be augmented with the deployment of PA upon the approval of the Chief and recommendation of the PNP regional director," said Agas.

The police official also pointed that all PSP personnel deployed in the region during the election period have already been recalled with only 49 personnel utilized as PSP.

Moreover, private individuals can also employ the services of not more than four PNP protective agents subject to the approval of the PNP chief.

Meanwhile, other public officials and private individuals may avail or engage the services of the PNP PSP provided that they are under actual death threats and other related danger.

In case of emergency, city and provincial chiefs are given the authority to provide PNP escorts for not more than 15 days.

Further, in Central Visayas, some 78 licensed private security personnel have already been trained for VIP security training under PRO Chief Lani-O Nerez.

Said individuals underwent two-week training before they could be certified Pas, with some of them deployed during the last May election as an initiative to augment the reinforcement of the PNP in terms of security.

Agas said that with the deployment of Pas, police personnel will now have more time to focus on police work.