PNP to require security guards to wear uniforms during ‘-ber’ months

Starting this month security guards in malls, hotels, and other public places will be required to wear their prescribed uniforms instead of Barong-type clothing, the head of the Philippine National Police-Supervisory Office for Security and Investigation Agencies (SOSIA) said Tuesday.

Senior Supt Jose Mario Espino, director of PNP SOSIA, said the requirement was part of a crime deterrence strategy. “These -ber months, we consider these red letter days sa calendar ng PNP,” explained Espino. “During this time... sinuspend namin yung special type of uniforms and require them to wear the prescribed security guard uniform as deterrent sa would be perpetrators ng theft, robbery and other untoward incidents.”

The SOSIA director added that many guards at malls and hotels now wear Barongs, and they thus look more like ordinary employees.

“It will help yung public natin where to run in case of emergency. Sa mga past incident, kapag naka-Barong Tagalog yung security guards tingin ng public they are just ordinary employees. Unlike kapag naka-uniform yung guard talagang tatakbuhan sya,” he said.

He explained further that it was the duty of  security guards to help the public during times of emergency.

ASEAN Summit

Espino said that the security-uniform requirement would be implemented until the end of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit next year, which the Philippines will be hosting.

He added that they were also encouraging security agencies to help the local police set up PNP Assistance Centers, particularly in malls, and provide at least one security guard in tandem with the police.

“At present may malls that allow PNP personnel to roam and patrol inside malls. Nakita natin malaking deterrent yun,” he pointed out.

Espino added they had also issued an advisory to security agencies alerting them on bomb threats and bomb materials “Nandun pa rin, hindi pa rin nag-downgrade yung alert level sa security agencies,” he said.

Espino also revealed that security guards were given enhanced training on identifying and profiling persons of interests. “They do not rely on basic training namin. but they do this enhancement training kagaya nitong bomb threats at identification of bomb parts,tinuturo sa mga guards yan,” he said.

He said that they were planning  to officially include anti-terrorism in the curriculum of security guards.

“SOSIA keeps on giving agency operators advisories, lalo na to beef up their security. And if there is an incident and after an investigation we found out that they lack security measures despite the announcement advisory, may corresponding penalties yun,” he said.

Security agencies that fail to provide provide proper service face a P10,000 penalty of on first offense. The penalty for second and third offense depends on the gravity of the lapses committed, which may even included the cancelation of their licenses.

Despite the enhance security arrangement, Espino made it clear that the public need not be cowed by bomb threats as SOSIA and security agencies do not take these lightly and are doing all they can to secure the citizenry.

“We will be busy going around these malls and hotels just to make sure nandun mga security measures. We will conduct random and surprise inspections,” Espino clarified. — DVM, GMA News