THE Philippine National Police Civil Security Group (PNP-CSG) and its Supervisory Office for Security and Investigation Agencies are watching the presence of private security agencies and guards who continue their work without any licenses and permits, including the gun ban exemption from the Committee on the Ban on Firearms and Security Concerns of the Commission on Elections, the Journal Group learned.

The move is aimed at accounting for private security companies and their guards who are already performing their assigned tasks without any government permits and the required Comelec gun ban exemption in case they are carrying firearms while on duty, said PNP-CSG director, Major General Leo Francisco.

Since the start of the nationwide gun ban last January 12, a total of 21 incidents of gun ban violation involving 33 security guards have been taken cognizance of by the PNP-SOSIA.

The 33 security guards are among the more than 1,900 individuals arrested for violation of the gun ban since January 12 to date.

Of the 33 administrative cases investigated by the PNP-SOSIA since the start of the nationwide prohibition on the unauthorized carrying of firearms and other deadly weapons, 14 cases were ‘dropped and closed,’ 10 are under preliminary evaluation, 4 are under summary hearing proceedings, 1 is under initial evaluation and 4 are still being investigated.

Of the 33 security guards apprehended, PNP-SOSIA director Brigadier Gen. Marlou Roy Alzate said that 7 were arrested in Comelec-supervised PNP checkpoints, 20 were apprehended as a result of police response, 3 were jailed as a result of buy-bust operations, 2 were held as a result of Oplan: Sita; and 1 as a result of a service of a search.

Brig. Gen. Alzate said that 12 of the apprehended security guards were found to have no license; 9 have expired license while the remaining 12 have valid license to exercise security profession.

The official also said that they have registered a notable reduction in the number of security guards being apprehended for violation of the gun ban.

In January, there were 23 guards arrested followed by 4 in February and then 5 in March.

The reduction was attributed to relevant advisories issued by the PNP-SOSIA which focuses on Comelec guidelines on gun ban violation, the timely ‘Ugnayan sa SOSIA’ aimed at addressing issues and concern during the poll period; and the motu-proprio investigation and filing of administrative complaint of Regional Civil Security Units on the involved security personnel.

Brig. Gen. Alzate told the Journal Group that a security guard in Marikina City was apprehended by inspectors from the SOSIA after he was found to be rendering duty without any license and a gun ban exemption from the Comelec.

He said that an inspection team from the Regional Civil Security Unit-National Capital Region conducted the investigation following a letter-complaint regarding the presence of a security guard posted at the 2nd floor of the City Center Building in Brgy. Nangka, Marikina City without a License to Exercise Security Profession (LESP).

Around 3:30 p.m. Tuesday last week, members of the RCSU-NCR under Colonel Oscar Regala Jr. inspected the establishment and discovered that a security guard from the Stateguard Security Agency has an expired LESP, no duty detail order and has no juridical firearm license allowing him to possess any firearm.

The guard also failed to present a gun ban exemption permit from the Comelec Committee on Gun Ban and Security Concern prompting the RCSU-NCR inspectors led by Captain Norberto B. Saboriendo Jr. to confiscate his caliber .38 revolver after being issued a violation ticket report.

An initial inspection of the confiscated revolver showed that it also appeared to have tampered serial numbers.

As a result, the PNP-SOSIA director said they will request the PNP Forensic Group to subject the gun to a macro-etching examination to determine its true markings.

Following those findings, the RCSU-NCR was directed by Brig. Gen. Alzate to prepare the necessary documents for the filing of a criminal complaint for violation of Republic Act 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearm and Ammunition Regulations Act of 2013 in relation to the Omnibus Election Code against the security guard and the private security agency involved.

Brig. Gen. Alzate said they will also conduct an administrative investigation on the concerned security agency to determine its violations in relation to RA 11917 or the Private Security Services Industry Act.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Alfred P. Dalizon