PNP News Releases 2006

PNP CLARIFIES MISSION OF SENATE AND HOUSE SECURITY

Philippine National Police units assigned to provide security to the premises of both houses of Congress will perform strictly installation security missions only pending legal opinion from the Department of Justice.

All other police functions required by the Senate and House of Representatives shall be endorsed by the chief or head of the installation security unit to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group or the local PNP units concerned for their appropriate action.

This was clarified today in a Memorandum issued by the PNP National Headquarters to the Special Action Force and the Police Security and Protection Office.

Upon instructions of PNP Chief, Director General Oscar C Calderon, PNP Director for Operations, Director Wilfredo Garcia said all security personnel assigned to the Senate and House of Representatives "shall only take direct orders from the Chain of Command."

The SAF is tasked to provide security to the Batasan Complex in Quezon City and the Senate offices in Pasay City. The PSPO, on the otherhand, provides close-in security personnel to some members of Senate and the House of Representatives.

Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo V Puno has sought the legal opinion of the Department of Justice on the question of whether the PNP is authorized to serve warrants of arrest from non-judicial offices with contempt powers.

Pending the DOJ legal opinion, all PNP units have been instructed to cease implementing warrants of arrest issued by the Senate and House of Representatives.

The Special Action Force had earlier requested to be relieved of post security duties at the Batasan Complex in Quezon City and the Senate offices in Pasay City.

SAF officials said the unit is maximizing its personnel requirements for the assumption of counter-insurgency duties as the PNP shifts to a more active role in internal security operations under Executive Order No. 546.