MORE POLICE BODYGUARDS EYED FOR LOCAL CHIEF EXECUTIVES

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police may raise the number

of police security escorts assigned to local chief executives facing serious
threats, in response to the recent spate of deadly attacks on mayors and
governors, a senior police official told lawmakers on Wednesday.

At a hearing of the House committee on public order and safety committee,

the legislators expressed concern about the killing of local politicians in recent
weeks, the latest claiming the lives of Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo and
eight others on March 4.

Brig. Gen. Matthew Baccay of the PNP Directorate for Personnel Records and
Management noted that at present a local government official with “validated
threats” on his or her life was entitled to only two police officers as security
detail.
“But the PNP is in the process of providing a security package, especially for
those with threat assessments that are validated,” he said during the hearing.
Baccay said a number of local officials had made requests for more police
escorts in the aftermath of Degamo’s murder.
He said the PNP was inclined to comply, provided that the officials involved
had documented threats on their lives.

“Under extreme and emergency cases, we may add up to six” escorts for one
person, he added.
Under a 2019 PNP memorandum circular, local chief executives are entitled
to a maximum of two security officers from the Police Security and Protection
Group. In “highly exceptional cases,” they may request a maximum of six
additional escorts, either from the PNP or from private security agencies.
“For now the move of the PNP is to provide additional security personnel with
those with validated threat assessment,” Baccay said.
At the PNP headquarters in Camp Crame on Tuesday, Interior Secretary
Benhur Abalos and PNP officials met with officials of the Union of Local
Authorities of the Philippines led by its president, Quirino Gov. Dakila Carlo
Cua, and its member leagues.

The officials told Abalos and the PNP they were alarmed by the successive
attacks on their colleagues, PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo told a press
conference on Wednesday.
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Manila, Philippines — The PNP may raise the number of police security

escorts asigned to local chief executives facing serius threats, in responseto
the recent spate of deadly attacks on Mayors and governors, a senior police
official told law makers on Wednesday

At a haering of the House comittee on public order and safety committee, the
legislators expressed concern about the killing of local Politicians in recent
weeks, the latest claiming the lives of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo
and 8 others on March 4.

Brig. Gen. Matthew Baccay of the PNP Directorate for Personnel Records and
Management noted that at present a local government official with “validated
threats” on his or her life was entitled to only two police officers as security
detail.

“But the PNP is in the process of providing a security package, especially for
those with threat assessments that are validated ” he said during the hearing.
Baccay said a number of local officials had made requests for more polices
escorts in the aftermath of Degamo’s murder.

He said the PNP was incline to comply, provided that the officials involved had
documented treats on their lives.“Under extreme and Emergency cases, we
may add up to 6” escorts for one person, he added.

Under a 2019 PNP memorandum circular, local chief executives are entitled
to a maximum of two security officers from the Police Security and protection
Group. In “highly exceptional cases,” they may request a maximum of six
aditional escorts, either from the PNP or from private security agencies.“For
now the move of the PNP is to provide additional security personnel with
those with validated threat assessment,” Bacay said.

At the PNP headquarters in Camp Crime on Tues., Interior Secretary Benhur

Abalos and PNP officials met with officials of the Union of Local authorities of
the Philippines led byits president, Quirino Gov Dakila Carlo Cua, and it’s
member leagues.