The Philippine National Police confiscated a total of 331 unlicensed and illegally-owned guns by various security agencies in Metro Manila as the intensified campaign against loose firearms continue ahead of the May 13 midterm elections.
Police General Oscar Albayalde, PNP chief, led the presentation of the loose firearms seized by agents of the Civil Security Group-Supervisory Office for Security and Investigation Agencies (CSG-SOSIA) in Camp Crame, Quezon City, Tuesday.
Of the 331 seized firearms, 250 came from security agencies with Cease to Operate Orders (CTOs) while 81 were confiscated through the conduct of post-to-post inspections since the start of election period on January 13 up to the present, Albayalde said.
With the loose firearms now secured by the PNP, Albayalde said possible election-related violent incidents would be prevented.
“Since last year that we started the campaign against loose firearms, we have recovered a little more than 5,000 loose firearms already. That includes the recovery of our SOSIA,” Albayalde noted.
However, more work is needed since, as Alabayalde announced earlier, around one million loose firearms across the country remain unaccounted for.
Data from the PNP showed that 31 poll-related incidents have been recorded from January 13 to May 7, 2019. This was lower compared to the 106 and 94 incidents noted in 2016 and 2013 elections, respectively.
The SOSIA is an arm agency of the PNP which is tasked to supervise all security agencies and security officers in the country.
SECURITY ESCORTS
Albayalde also reminded candidates that they need to get a permit from the Commission on Elections (Comelec) first before they can avail of a security detail or escort.
“There’s nothing wrong with politicians owning a security agency because it’s a legitimate business. What is unauthorized is for them to hire their agency or security guard who will act as their own security detail especially during the campaign period, or if they bear firearms, without Comelec authority,” he explained.
Albayalde said the PNP and Comelec will have to evaluate if there is indeed an immediate threat to the life of a candidate before he is given permission to have a security detail.
This, he explained, is to avoid the possible establishment of private armed groups (PAGs) which are often utilized by some candidates to their advantage during elections.
“Even without the conduct of election, if they have their own security guard, they need to secure a permit to carry firearms and the firearms should be covered by licenses,” Albayalde added.
Albayalde then advised security agencies to conduct a strict vetting process on the officers that they will hire.
He cited the recent arrest of a suspected member of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) who had been working as a security guard at a mall in Muntinlupa City.
The suspect was identified as Aldemar Saiyari, who was the subject of a warrant of arrest for kidnapping and serious illegal detention. He was accused of being a part of an ASG unit which kidnapped 21 tourists in Sipadan, Malaysia, in April 2000.
“I think it’s incumbent upon them na kailangan mayroong clearances ang hina-hire nila na security guard like police clearance, NBI [National Bureau of Investigation] clearance or kahit na barangay clearance or court clearance para malaman talaga natin kung may kaso o wala ang tao,” Albayalde said.
“Probably mayroon dapat silang background investigation,” he added. (Martin A. Sadongdong)
