A SPATE of bloody attacks against three local government officials in less than a week reminds us that there’s a need to conduct an assessment of security threats against elected public servants.

Various quarters want to know whether the Philippine National Police (PNP), the nation’s premier law enforcement agency, is providing enough or inadequate security to government executives.

And no less than PNP chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. has ordered all regional police offices to start conducting threat assessments on government officials in their respective areas of jurisdiction.

“We want to know if these government officials have perceived enemies in their areas…so that we can inform them if they need to beef up their security,” said General Azurin.

Last Wednesday night, Mayor Ohto Caumbo Montawal of Datu Montawal town in Maguindanao del Sur was shot and wounded by one of two men on board a motorcycle in Pasay City.

Mayor Caumbo, who was wounded in the hip and left arm, was in Manila to attend the February 21-23 assembly of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines at the Manila Hotel.

On February 17, armed men ambushed the convoy of Lanao del Sur Gov. Mamintal Adiong Jr. in Kalilangan, Bukidnon. Adiong survived but four of his companions died in the attack.

Two days later, armed men in military uniforms ambushed the convoy of Vice Mayor Rommel Alameda of Aparri, Cagayan in Bagabag town in Nueva Vizcaya.

Police reports said that Vice Mayor Alameda and five of his companions were killed.

Under PNP rules and regulations, elected government officials are only allowed to have two security personnel from the elite PNP-Police Security and Protection Group (PSPG).

Certainly, the strict but fair Ilocano PNP chief is on the right path in ensuring the safety of the country’s public servants, particularly elected local government officials.

AUTHOR PROFILE

People's Tonight