By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan | Philippine News Agency
The Philippine National Police (PNP) is planning to tap security guards to serve as its “eyes and ears” to help improve peace and order and address other security concerns.
Civil Security Group (CSG) director PMGEN. Edgar Alan Okubo made the remark during the closing ceremony for the Basic Information Collection and Analysis Seminar (BICAS) for private security agencies in Camp Crame Quezon City on Wednesday, the PNP Public Information Office said in a news release Friday.
“The seminar was spearheaded by the PNP-CSG is a recognition of the crucial role played by security guards across various sectors, including airports and commercial establishments. Their responsibilities extend to addressing both external and internal threats contributing to the government’s comprehensive security framework,” Okubo added.
The CSG chief said this is essential in addressing information gaps and leveraging security guards in identifying and reporting anomalies, such as issues related to national security, internal security operations (ISO), terrorism, espionage, smuggling, drug trading, illegal Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs) and others.
Based on the CSG’s data, there are around 575,000 security guards across the country which can augment the PNP in its peace and order and law enforcement duties.
Okubo said the BICAS will be replicated across the country to cover all security guards.
He also urged all private security agencies to cooperate since the effort is for the sake of the country and the Filipino people.
The cooperation, he said, includes maintaining daily intelligence briefs (DIBs) and submission of daily reports to the Supervisory Office for Security and Investigation Agencies (SOSIA) for assessment and further validation by intelligence units.