PNP formally opens CSG satellite office at MPD headquarters

PNP Chief Police General Camilo Pancratius Cascolan together with Civil Security Group (CSG) Director, Police Major General Israel Ephraim Dickson and Manila Police District Director, Police Brigadier General Rolando Miranda, led the blessing and inauguration of the CSG’s Satellite Office (SATO) in Manila Police District (MPD) on October 21, 2020. /Photo from PNP Public Information Office.

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) formally opened on Wednesday a satellite office of the Civil Security Group (CSG) at the Manila Police District (MPD) headquarters to accommodate the renewal of licenses of private security personnel.

PNP chief Gen. Camilo Cascolan said the opening of the satellite office is part of the PNP’s effort to improve police visibility in communities.

“The problem of our PNP is basically visibility. ‘Yan parati ang sinasabi ng komunidad, visibility. Gusto natin lumapit din lalo sa komunidad at tsaka sa barangay. That’s why we are going down,” he said in an interview with reporters.

(The problem of PNP is visibility. That is what the community always says. We want to go near to communities and barangays. That’s why we are going down.)

“We want to serve our people much better, make it easy for them to come up with their requirements with regards to clearances,” he added.

Cascolan said the CSG is also working on setting up a drive-through service for the claiming of gun licenses and other permits.

“Gen. Dickson is working on it. ‘Yung last stage ng pagkuha ng lisensya ng mga baril, LTOPF (license to own and possess a firearm), at security guard licenses, pwede mo nang kunin doon, didiretso ka lang doon,” he said, referring to CSG director Maj. Gen. Israel Dickson.

In a statement, Dickson said the opening of the CSG satellite office in Manila is “in line with the CPNP’s (chief PNP) 9-point strategic agenda specifically on the decentralization of the PNP licensing.”

“We have to plan, do and act immediately to stay relevant and productive to continue our services throughout the pandemic and beyond while strictly adhering to the health protocols to stay healthy and safe as well,” he said.

The CSG is supervising the PNP’s Firearms and Explosives Office that processes gun licenses and the Supervisory Office for Security and Investigation Agencies (SOSIA) which has supervision over security guards and their agencies.

Dickson said the Manila satellite office at present cannot process applications for gun permits as it will only entertain applications for the renewal of the License to Exercise Security Profession. He is hopeful that permits to possess and carry firearms would also be processed soon at the satellite office once the CSG system for such applications is finalized.

/MUF