PNP recalls 'protective agents' assigned to gov't officials

The Philippine National Police (PNP) has recalled nearly 1,000 "protective agents" assigned to government officials.

Chief Superintendent Alfred Corpus, director of the PNP's Police Security and Protection Group (PSPG), said they are expecting a total of 965 protective agents to report back to headquarters.

Corpus said that as of Monday morning, a total of 882 agents have reported back to base.

The PSPG provides security and protection to officials of the government, including elected officials and officials of the judiciary, foreign dignitaries and even private individuals.

Corpus said the recall order was sent out before the start of the election period on January 10, the same date of the start of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) gun ban.

The election period and the Comelec gun ban will last until June 8.

The PSPG chief said that the protective agents' recall is pursuant to Comelec Resolution 8714.

Section 33 of the Comelec resolution prohibits candidates and incumbent public officers seeking elective posts from getting "the services of security personnel or bodyguards..."

The Comelec, however, can provide security for candidates under threat.

"The officers assigned for security duty to a candidate shall be subject to the same requirement as to wearing of uniforms prescribed in the immediately preceding section unless exempted in writing by the Commission," the resolution adds.

Corpus said the protective agents are recalled to make sure that they will remain apolitical and will not be influenced by politicians.

Meanwhile, protective agents assigned to key officials of the government are not included in the recall order.

The key officials include the President, Vice President, Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chief Justice, Comelec chairman and commissioners and major service commanders including the Secretary of National Defense, Secretary of the Interior and Local Government and the chief of the PNP and seniors officers of the police force. 

Corpus said they are still waiting for 83 protective agents to report back to their headquarters.

He added that ff the agents will fail to report on time, they will be asked to explain and may face administrative charges. —ALG, GMA News