THE Philippine National Police Supervisory Office for Security and Investigation Agencies (PNP-SOSIA) headed by Colonel Marlou Roy V. Alzate has partnered with the Armed Forces of the Philippines Reserved Command in educating Army reservists-turned-Protective Agents on the do’s and don’ts of their new jobs, the Journal Group learned yesterday.

“We are having full coordination with the AFP Reserve Command to inform their reservists-turned Protective Agents (PA) that there is a process that needs to be followed while serving as security personnel to private individuals. They really need to be educated,” Col. Alzate told the Journal Group.

The move was made amid complaints that many Army reservists have been serving as security guards or Protective Agents of moneyed personalities in the country without any authority from the PNP-SOSIA and the Police Security and Protection Group.

There are some 1,700 licensed Protective Agents in the country at present. They however must have a Special Duty Detail from the PSPG and a License to Exercise Security Profession being issued by the PNP-SOSIA before they can secure a private individual.

All Protective Agents can carry a firearm belonging to their security agency provided they have a Special Duty Detail order being given by the PSPG. They are also outrightly barred from carrying their licensed firearms even with a Permit-to-Carry-Firearms-Outside-of-Residence issued by the PTCFOR Secretariat.

Col. Alzate said that on orders of PNP chief General Rommel Francisco D. Marbil, they are constantly checking the papers of PAs in Metro Manila and other parts of the country.

“We are checking the License to Exercise Security Profession and their PSPG Special Duty Detail. Those who will be found carrying their personal firearms even with a License to Own and Possess Firearm, a Firearm Registration and PTCFOR will be facing charges and may face revocation of their gun permits,” the official said.

Col. Alzate said that since last April, they have been very strict monitoring PAs in the country. At least two unauthorized Protection Agents have been apprehended and charged in court by the PNP-SOSIA in line with the ongoing crackdown against illegal bodyguards ordered by Gen. Marbil.

PNP Civil Security Group director, Major Gen. Edgar Alan O. Okubo said this is part of the crackdown on illegally-deployed Protection Agents in Metro Manila and other parts of the country ordered by the PNP chief.

Red Teams from the PNP-SOSIA have been scouring casinos, hotels and other major establishments in Metro Manila and its nearby regions in search of unauthorized Protective Agents rendering security protection to foreigners, mostly Chinese nationals involved in POGO or casino business.

Last May, PNP-SOSIA officers accosted two suspected unauthorized Protective Agents outside a hotel in Pasay City who identified themselves as Philippine Army reservists.

Last June 9, another eight men including an Army reservist ‘securing’ a wealthy Malaysian national were also accosted for the same violation.

The apprehended unauthorized Protective Agents acting as bodyguards for a Filipino-Chinese businessman as well as their employer have been charged with violation of Republic Act 11917 or the Private Security Services Industry Act by the PNP-SOSIA.