DILG orders PNP to recall 2,800 security escort cops

Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno has ordered the Philippine National Police (PNP) to recall some 2,800 policemen detailed as security escorts of government officials and private citizens.

Puno said the policemen can be deployed in rebel-infested areas to beef up the PNP’s capability in maintaining peace and order and assisting the military in the counterinsurgency campaign.

"We only have 118,000 policemen for a population of 80 million," he said.

"Ordering these PNP personnel, who are on detail to other government agencies and private VIPs, to return to their mother units, would mean adding close to 3,000 more policemen in the revitalized fight against crime and insurgency in our communities."

Puno said government officials and private citizens who are under threat can seek protection from the PNP Private Security and Protection Office (PSPO), which has 1,500 police officers specifically trained for the job.

"The PSPO will even come up with a threat analysis for every case to determine how many PNP personnel should be assigned to a certain person and how many and what type of firearms they should carry," he said.

In response to Puno’s directive, the PNP Civil Security Group (CSG) will launch today a program that would encourage individuals to undergo training and become licensed security escorts.

Senior Superintendent Wilben Mayor said the PNP can then recommend trained and licensed security escorts to individuals needing their services.

Puno, who chairs the National Police Commission (Napolcom), directed personnel of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the PNP and all other department-attached agencies, who have been on detail for a period exceeding one year, to return to their mother units.

Puno’s order covers about 1,500 policemen detailed outside their mother units and another 1,300 assigned to protect very important persons (VIPs) in the private sector.

In Circular No. 2006-08, which took effect last June 1, Puno said the extension or renewal of detail may be allowed in the interest of public service, subject to the following:

• A comprehensive evaluation, justification and recommendation of the concerned undersecretary or head of unit or attached agency where such personnel is on detail.

• Approval of the secretary of interior and local government.

Puno said he has also ordered the recall of policemen assigned to guard private VIPs in view of a law that now allows individuals to employ private security escorts for their protection.

Local government officials can always tap the PNP to provide them with protection because they have operational supervision over the local police force, he added. — Cecille Suerte Felipe