Give the “experiment” a chance.
That’s what Malacañang is asking the public to do after some critics slammed Department of Interior and Local Government Sec. Mar Roxas’ plan to allot PHP21 million to tap security service providers instead of hiring more policemen to man the gates of Camp Crame.
READ: PNP sets aside PHP21 million to hire security guards for Camp Crame
Roxas’ plan was crafted amid calls for increased police visibility. The “experiment” is built on the premise that by hiring security guards, police officers could be sent deployed to where they were really needed.
“Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said the move is aimed at getting more policemen out of headquarters and deployed across the metropolis,” reports Joyce Pangco Panares in Manila Standard Today.
Lacierda was quoted as saying, “Our policemen should be out on the streets because we are aiming for police visibility. That is the reform that Secretary Mar Roxas wanted to put.”
Philippine Naional Police public information head Chief Supt. Reuben Sindac explained that with Roxas’ plan, at least 100 officers on guard duty will be fielded for patrol work.
Sindac also pointed out that “hiring 80 to 100 security guards on three shifts a day for PHP1.7 million per month was more economical.”
“A Police Officer 1 is paid PHP18,000 to PHP20,000 plus other benefits while a security guard is paid about PHP15,000. From the resources alone, you can see the disparity,” Sindac stated.
Photo by user ThirdyBoy via WikiCommons
