‘Don’t treat us like errand boys,’ PSPG chief tells VIPs
THE director of the Police Security and Protection Group (PSPG) reminded those very important personalities (VIPs) authorized to have PSPG security details to stop treating their bodyguards as ‘errand boys’ who will do menial jobs for them.
“We are reminding our VIPs to refrain from turning their PSPG Protective Security Personnel literally into ‘utusan, tagabuhat ng bag, taga-pamalengke, driver or utility men. Please respect their uniform,” said PSPG director, Brigadier General Rogelio Simon.
The general also urged the public to report the presence of PSPG personnel running errands for VIPs they are assigned to secure.
He also said that holding umbrellas and opening doors for the VIPs and even running errands like driving their children to school are not part of a PSPG bodyguard’s duties.
“Sa ating mga kababayan, kung nakunan niyo sila na gumagawa ng mga gawain na nakakababa ng dignidad sa aming trabaho, ito’y maaaring i-report niyo sa PNP at bibigyan namin ng aksyon ang mga ito.
Hindi po sila dapat na ginagamit sa mga trabahong nakakapagpababa ng dignidad ng aming trabaho… Hindi dapat sila ginagawang utusan. Ito po ay malinaw sa ating polisiya,” Simon said.
To be easily identified from private security details of politicians, PSPG personnel’s standard uniform is a blue Barong with an embroidered PSPG seal and black pants.
At present, nearly 1,000 PSPG personnel are serving as bodyguards to nearly 600 VIPs or ‘protectees’ which include former government officials, governors, vice-governors, mayors, vice-mayors and private individuals, including local residents and former PNP chiefs and retired star-rank officials.
Others are also assigned to the Presidential Security Group, the Office of the Vice President, Ambassadors and Consuls and vital installations in the country.
The National Police Commission’s Memorandum Circular 2009-004 says that 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 tasks.
Also, PSPG personnel are not allowed in the VIP’s business establishment or be used as an “instrument to harm and intimidate other people.”
PSPG bodyguards found to be allowing themselves to literally work as ‘utility men’ for their VIPs court administrative sanctions.
Any VIP who will be found doing the same will also find his protective security detail recalled or such action could be the basis for the denial of his future application for protective detail.
PNP chief General Rommel Francisco D. Marbil earlier ordered the recall of all PSPG personnel securing retired police star-rank officials except those assigned to former PNP chiefs, the Journal Group learned.
The directive of the 30th PNP chief affected at least 50 retired Police Brigadier Generals up to Lieutenant Generals who have PSPG Protective Security Personnel (PSPs).
However, Simon said that some retired generals with proven ‘real existing threats’ due to their campaign against criminality, drugs, terror and rogues in uniform’ during their active days will still be able to retain their PSPG bodyguards upon a thorough validation of their present security situation.
The recalled PSPs will be assigned to the PSPG division securing vital installations in the country including the Senate, the House of Representatives and the different embassies and foreign missions in the country.
The PNP chief has also ordered the removal of 24-hour duty for police personnel and the downloading of hundreds of administrative personnel at Camp Crame to different Police Regional Offices to beef-up their round-the-clock street patrols.
Gen. Marbil is not known for having a coterie of armed bodyguards surrounding him each time he is leaving Camp Crame or is just doing his work inside the PNP headquarters.
The new top cop even ordered the removal of base policemen assigned to guard 24/7 the entrance to the Office of the Chief PNP for many years now so that they could perform patrol duties.
According to Simon, shortly after he took over as PNP chief last April 1, Gen. Marbil ordered the accounting of PSPs assigned to retired PNP star-rank officials but allowed all former PNP chiefs to continue having their PSPG security personnel.
The PSPG inventory showed that there are 20 retired PNP star-rank officials with detailed PSPs and 81 with detailed PSPs for one year and above.
Of the 81, 49 have detailed PSPs for two years and above already.
As ordered by Gen. Marbil, the PSPG will ensure that retired PNP star-rank officials who were granted security details shall only be allowed a maximum of two years to have a maximum of two PSPs.
However, former PNP chiefs are not included in the recall order.
Of the 29 other PNP chiefs and Officers-in-Charge before Gen. Marbil, more than half are known to have availed of two or three PSPs.
Simon said they also have a policy which bars PSPG personnel with the rank of Police Executive Master Sergeant, the highest-ranked Police Non-Commissioned Officer, from becoming PSPs due to their age and seniority.
The PSPG is the PNP tasked to secure and protect elected and appointed national government officials; members of the Diplomatic Corps and visiting foreign dignitaries; delegates and/or participants during special events, private individuals authorized to be given protection and vital government installations.
