Security agency loses license

MANILA, Philippines—The Philippine National Police (PNP) has cancelled the license of the security agency involved in the attempt to forcibly take over the Stradcom Corp. offices in the Land Transportation Office (LTO) compound in Quezon City last year.

The PNP Supervisory Office for Security and Investigation Agencies (SOSIA) said Saturday it had revoked the operational license of Unilateral Security and Safety Solutions Inc. (USSSI), whose guards participated in the takeover that paralyzed LTO operations for six hours.

The SOSIA, the office that regulates and oversees the operations of private security firms, said it reached the decision after “thorough investigations of the incident which had caused huge losses to the operations” of the LTO.

“We will not tolerate the abuse of power by security agencies that pose a danger to public order and safety,” said SOSIA head Chief Supt. Samuel Diciano in a statement.

Early in the morning of Dec. 9, 2010, some 30 uniformed and non-uniformed USSSI security guards led by Bonifacio Sumbilla and Aderito Yujuico, whom SOSIA called “usurpers,” took over the Stradcom building in the LTO compound in Quezon City.

Under a lucrative contract that will expire in 2013, Stradcom maintains the records and transactions of all LTO agencies nationwide.

Stradcom’s current management, led by Cezar Quiambao, accused the Sumbilla group of falsifying documents to make it appear the company’s leadership had changed.