‘Hire security escorts from private agencies’

The Philippine Star reports: “With the expected influx of applicants seeking protection during the 2019 midterm elections, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Oscar Albayalde yesterday appealed to candidates to also look at private security agencies for their security detail. Albayalde admitted that with a limited number of police officers, the PNP will not be able to secure all politicians, especially those running for posts in critical areas. “We encourage them to also get from private agencies. There a lot of private agencies providing security,” he said in an interview over dzBB. According to Albayalde, more than 10,000 police officers are securing politicians, judges, businessmen and other very important persons (VIPs). He said these law enforcers would be better off ridding the streets of criminals rather than guarding VIPs.”