THE Philippine National Police issued a warning to mall managers and owners of security agencies in dressing up their security guards for the holidays, saying that it is prohibited.
According to Brig. Gen. Gregory Bongñabal, chief of PNP-Supervisory Office for Security and Investigation Agencies (SOSIA) security agencies, malls and business establishments should refrain from asking their security guards to wear costumes while on duty, as they are required to wear proper uniforms for security agencies and security guards across the country.
Bongñabal argued that criminals might take this opportunity to disguise themselves to be able to carry out their illegal activities.
“Kapag sinabing proper uniform yan yung standard uniform ng isang guwardiya, nothing more nothing less. Puwede kasi yung iba mag-disguise as guards under the guise utilizing the costume of whatever it is,” he said.
“Mahirap din natin maidentify kaagad kung sino siya kasi walang nakalagay na nameplate, ID so that’s why we discourage yung using that type of uniform aside from the mandated standard uniform para tayo mismo kahit hindi lang yung mga supervisors, kahit yung mga PNP na nagmomonitor but even the civilians at one glance alam mo na kaagad na siya ay guwardiya kasi nakikita mo yung typical guard uniform na yun ang kadalasang ginagamit nila with ID,” he added.
He added that in case of emergencies, the response of security guards might be restricted or limited because they cannot be easily identified.
Bongñabal said that under Section 14 of Republic Act 5487 or the Private Security Agency Law, the “Chief of the Philippine Constabulary (now the PNP), through his duly authorized representative, shall prescribe the uniform or ornaments, equipment and paraphernalia to be worn by the security guards and watchmen throughout the Philippines.”
According Col. Merquiodi Bodanio, chief of the SOSIA enforcement management division said that security guard officers caught wearing themed costumes will be fined P500 to P 1,000 while the security agencies will be fined P10,000 for the first offense and P20,000 for the second offense.
Aside from the fines for each security guard, the agency handling them will also be fined and will be subject to administrative investigation.
The security agency will also be at risk of having its permit to operate canceled in case of repeated violations.
“Ang first offense yung light offense, siguro penalty niya or nakalagay doon yung penal provision nagsusuot ng unprescribed uniform para sa mga securty personnal ay nagrarange ng P500 to P1,000, yan yung first offense. Kapag ulit ulitin yan,recidiist, eventually tumataas din yung kanyang penalty. Sa (security) agencies naman mga PHP10,000 to PHP20,000 mabigat yung responsibility ng security agencies depende sa mga offenses na macocommit nila,” Bodanio said.
