PNP recalls security escorts a month after May 10 polls

A month after the automated May 10 elections, the Philippine National Police (PNP) has started recalling thousands of its police personnel who were deployed to become security escorts of candidates and other VIP’s engaged in the election campaign. The PNP has decided to return its escort personnel to their mother units, according to Deputy Director General Jefferson Soriano, who lauded all security detail for their "vital role" in the recently-concluded elections. "A job well done," he said. "Ni-recall namin lahat for accounting purposes. Inaccount lahat ng security na na-detail sa lahat ng candidates sa buong bansa (We recalled all of them for accounting purposes. We’re accounting all security people detailed to all candidates nationwide)," Soriano said in a radio interview. "The prevailing situation before [and during the elections] may not be prevailing now," Soriano added. He lauded all security detail for their "vital role" in the recently-concluded elections. "A job well done," he said. Soriano said the PNP will also start observing a new set of requirements in accommodating requests for security details. He said the PNP has also devised ways to recover the expenses that the police force has incurred in threat assessments and background investigations for the May elections and find efficient ways in using their limited funds. "The resources of our directorate for intelligence are very minimum. Nauubos iyon sa (It’s being consumed by) background investigation which is not supposed not to be," Soriano said. Police Security and Protection Group (PSPG) Director Lina Sarmiento said her office deployed some 1,200 men to ensure the safety of candidates who ran in the May 10 polls. Sarmiento said they were targetting to recall all their men and women before June 15. She said the policemen needed to be returned to their mother units to augment police forces that would ensure security for the opening of classes. In January, the PNP teamed up with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to ensure an "honest, orderly, and peaceful elections" (HOPE) by carrying out among others:

• the establishment of joint security control centers;
• implementation of nationwide firearms ban, which started January 9;
• setting up Comelec checkpoints; and
• provision of security detail.

For the May polls, each candidate was given a two-person security detail either coming from the PNP or the AFP. The escorts, required to be in their uniforms while on duty, were exempted from the total gun ban.—JV, GMANews.TV