Groups doing pandemic aid work need PNP clearance first

MANILA, Philippines — Civil society groups working with the local governments’ COVID-19 response programs should now secure police clearances as proof of their legitimacy, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said on Thursday.

The new requirement is apart from those set by the local governments for accreditation, DILG officer in charge Bernardo Florece Jr. said in a statement.

Florece pointed out that the clearances from the Philippine National Police must indicate that the civil society organizations (CSOs) had no record of illegal activity.

‘Nefarious agenda’

According to him, the department has received reports of CSOs working with local governments just to gain legitimacy so they could get “funding from local and foreign institutions to finance their personal nefarious agenda.”

The DILG earlier called on the groups and the private sector to work with local governments in COVID-19 contact tracing and public information campaign, values formation training and capacity-building in livelihood projects.

Typically, people who need police clearance only have to register online at the National Police Clearance System and set a date and place, particularly local police stations, where they could submit the documentary requirements and have their biometrics information taken.

Brig. Gen. Ildebrandi Usana, the PNP spokesperson, said that every time a group would register with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as either a for-profit or nonprofit, it would seek police assistance in ensuring that the organization was not formed with an illegal purpose.

“After the PNP clears the organization, it’s the only time that the SEC registers the organization or company,” Usana said.