PNP to hire private guards to watch over Camp Crame

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine National Police (PNP) has revived a plan to hire private security guards to watch over Camp Crame, the national headquarters of the police force.

Since Saturday, the PNP-Headquarters Support Service (HSS) conducted a dry run of the plan by assigning 21 private security guards, in different shifts, at Gate 2 of Camp Crame under the supervision of Senior Superintendent Ramon Apolinario.

In March 2008, PNP chief Avelino Razon Jr. announced a similar plan, saying private security guards may soon be securing the national and regional headquarters of the PNP as part of the program to boost police visibility, which has been proven effective in deterring crime.

PNP spokesman Chief Superintendent Generoso Cerbo Jr. said the deployment of 21 private security guards did not entail any expense from the government because they rendered their services for free.

Cerbo said the result of the dry run will be analyzed and assessed to allow the PNP leadership to see the advantages and disadvantages of the project.

“In the long run, the PNP could save. For example, a police officer 1 is receiving P18,000 basic monthly salary and bonuses, whereas when we hire security guards, the PNP will get minimal salary,” he added.

“We would like to turn over to civilians or non-uniformed personnel jobs that are non-sensitive or non-police in nature,” said Cerbo. “For example here in Camp Crame, a police officer is driving a garbage truck.”

Cerbo said that if the project pushes through, it will also be implemented in police camps nationwide.

He said the PNP leadership will only hire skilled and properly trained security guards from the best and most competent security agencies.