Police bodyguards for potential 2016 candidates to be recalled

PNP Police Security Protection Group spokesperson Superintendent Rogelio Simon. JULIANNE LOVE DE JESUS

The Philippine National Police will soon recall police personnel assigned as security escorts of VIPs who have expressed intentions to run in the 2016 national elections.

Superintendent Rogelio Simon, PNP Police Security Protection Group spokesperson, said that as soon as the Commission on Elections (Comelec) declares the start of campaign period, electoral candidates will not be allowed to have bodyguards who are members of the police force.

“All protective security personnel of electoral candidates will be recalled. No exception. Now if they want to avail the services of a protective agent, they will have to file a request before the Comelec,” Simon said in a press briefing at Camp Crame on Tuesday.

The recall order is in compliance with Section 33 of the Comelec Resolution No. 8714 preventing individuals running for public office to employ members of the PNP, Armed Forces of the Philippines and other government agencies to provide them security during the election period.

While the Comelec has yet to issue the order, Simon said the PSPG has started to monitor the VIPs who are potential candidates for the elections in May 2016.

But he said politicians facing threats to their lives could request the PNP to provide them protective security personnel. Intelligence officers will then conduct an investigation on the potential threats.

“If the threat is highly probable, that’s the only time we will be providing protective security personnel to politicians,” Simon said.

READ: Comelec OK for bodyguards needed

Except for mandatory protectees, PSPG deploys a maximum of two PNP personnel per individual.

The mandatory protecteess, based on the National Police Commission’s memorandum circular 2009-004, are the President, the Vice President, the Senate President, the Speaker, the Chief Justice, and the secretaries of the Department of National Defense and the Department of Interior and Local Government.

These officials may be given four up to nine protective security personnel. IDL