Police bodyguards not errand boys, PNP reminds VIPs

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

POLICE bodyguards are not errand boys, the Philippine National Police reminded VIPs who have police personnel as their security detail.

At the same time, the PNP urged the public to report to authorities any Police Security and Protection Group personnel who would be found running errands for the VIP he is guarding.

Holding umbrellas and opening doors for the VIPs, and running errands like driving government officials’ children to school, are not part of a police protective security personnel’s job, Superintendent Rogelio Simon, PSPG spokesperson, reiterated.

“Kung nakunan niyo sila na gumagawa ng mga gawain na nakakababa ng dignidad sa aming trabaho, ito’y maaaring ireport niyo sa PNP at bibigyan namin ng aksyon ang mga ito,”  Simon said in a press briefing at Camp Crame.

“Hindi dapat sila ginagamit sa mga trabahong nakakapagpababa ng dignidad ng aming trabaho… Hindi dapat sila ginagawang utusan. Ito po ay malinaw sa ating polisiya,” he added.

To be easily identified from private security details of politicians, PSPG personnel’s standard uniform is a blue Barong with a PSPG pin and black pants.

Under the policy guidelines of National Police Commission’s memorandum circular 2009-004, the duties of  PNP personnel as protective security detail should not include being a security guard, gatekeeper, family driver, errand boy and other similar utility task.

Also, police security personnel shouldn’t work in the VIPs’  business establishment or be used as an “instrument to harm and intimidate other people.”

If the personnel would be found committing violations, Simon said he would face administrative charges.

The PNP will also revoke the protective security given to the VIP, which could be a basis for the denial of his next request. AC