PNP raids security agency over expired license

MANILA, Philippines - Members of the Philippine National Police’s Civil Security Group (PNP-CSG) raided a security agency whose license to operate expired and seized 52 firearms to prevent them from being used in the May polls, an official said yesterday.

PNP-CSG chief Director Gil Meneses said the license of Pax Urbis Security Agency expired in October 2012 and its owner, Willard Agoloos, never made any effort to renew their licenses.

“Despite our notice to renew their licenses, this agency ignored us and continue to operate even with expired licenses. We have to implement the law,” he said in a briefing yesterday.

Meneses said the 32 12-gauge shotguns and 20 .38 caliber revolvers will be kept at the PNP’s Firearms and Explosives Office (FEO) until Agoloos renews his agency’s license to operate.

Chief Superintendent Tomas Rentoy III, chief of the Supervisory Office for Security and Investigation Agencies (SOSIA), said they have sent “cease to operate” notices to about 300 other security agencies with expired licenses.

Rentoy said a total of 1,743 security agencies nationwide were registered with SOSIA, most of which employ around 200 security guards.