The Bohol Provincial Police Office (BPPO) is ready to deploy police personnel to provide security for mayors should they request for it.
This was the statement issued Monday by BPPO director Sr. Supt. Angeles Geñorga after the killings of two mayors and one vice mayor in Luzon last week.
According to Geñorga, mayors can be provided with police security during official functions.
They however are not allowed to use police as bodyguards to accompany them during personal activities, said Geñorga.
“Pwede silang magrequest. Halimbawa may lakad sila sa barangay, pwede naman yan, mga affair diyan sa bayan. Automatic naman nagde-deploy tayo ng security pero ang pinagbabawal lang yun maging bodyguard,” he added.
Mayors will need to submit requirements to acquire police security while the BPPO will also be assessing the local chief executives’ requests including possible threats to their lives.
Geñorga also suggested for mayors to get personal bodyguards for added security, particularly during personal activities.
“Ang ini-encourage natin na mag-apply sila [mayors] ng private security, pwede naman po yun,” said Geñorga.
Earlier, the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) Bohol met with Geñorga and the Armed Forces of the Philippines to discuss the security of mayors in the province.
LMP president Clarin Mayor Allen Piezas said that several mayors in Bohol have already expressed concern over the recent killings of local chief executives.
Piezas however pointed out that threats are “normal” for government officials given that some of their policies can draw the ire of individuals adversely affected by them.
“No matter how nice you are, no matter how you tried your best to befriend everybody, dili gyud na mahitabo kay di man gyud ma-please nimo tanan. Naa gyuy dili moangay nimo, that’s normal,” said Piezas.
Concern over the safety of local chief executives arose following the fatal shootings of Tanauan City, Batangas Mayor Antonio Halili; General Tinio, Nueva Ecija Mayor Ferdinand Bote and Trece Martires, Cavite Vice Mayor Alexander Lubigan last week. (Rey Tutas)