Police Col. Sidney Villaflor, acting chief of the PNP Sosia. FILE PHOTO FROM PULIS ANGELES’ TWITTER ACCOUNT
MANILA, Philippines — Security guards in private villages and subdivisions cannot require visiting motorists to surrender their driver’s license before entering the gated community, according to the Philippine National Police (PNP).
Police Col. Sidney Villaflor, acting chief of the PNP Supervisory Office on Security and Investigation Agencies, issued a memorandum regarding this, which is directed to all private security agencies, detective agencies, security training institutions, government guard units, company guard forces, and other concerned security groups.
He said the memorandum dated June 15 was issued following incidents when security guards in private villages and subdivisions require drivers to surrender their license before entering the premises as an internal rule by home owners associations.
“Pursuant to reference 1a, the power to secure and/or confiscate drivers’ licenses are lodged under the capacity of the Land Transportation Office personnel, and others who are duly deputized by the said agency,” Villaflor said in the memorandum, referring to Republic Act 4136 or the Act to Compile the Laws Relative to Land Transportation and Traffic Rules to create a Land Transportation Commission and for Other Purposes.
In pursuant to Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board Administrative Order No. 03 series of 2017, homeowners associations and security guards of subdivisions are likewise not authorized by traffic laws to take custody, even temporarily, the license issued by the LTO, according to Villaflor.
“In lieu thereof, the drivers of vehicles entering these properties may present any valid government-issued identification cards to said security guards. Likewise, said security guards are reminded to uphold their professional conduct and ethics and be courteous to everyone,” he said.