25 gov’t officials ‘under threat,’ as validation nears completion

By Jennifer P. Rendon

The Police Regional Office (PRO) 6 has logged 25 elected government officials (EGOs) who are allegedly under threat.

The number is inconsequential as it is only 0.06 percent of the 37,966 EGOs all over Western Visayas.

Of the 25, eighteen are considered as high-risk while seven are medium-risk.

Sixteen are in Negros Occidental, six in Iloilo, and one in Capiz.

Two are in Bacolod City whose threat level is considered medium-risk.

Most of those “under threat” are municipal mayor/vice mayors with nine while there are seven barangay chairpersons (municipal level); two city mayors/vice mayors; two congressmen/representatives; two barangay councilman (municipal level); one city councilor; and one municipal councilor; and one barangay councilman (city level).

As of March 21, PRO-6 said it already conducted a risk evaluation of 37,469 or 98.76 percent of EGOs all over the region.

All cities and provinces have registered a 100 percent evaluation achievement except for Iloilo.

Iloilo province has 15,939 EGOs compared to Negros Occidental with only 5,907; Antique with 5,458; Capiz with 4,428; Aklan with 3,124; Iloilo City with 1,617; Guimaras with 934; and Bacolod City with only 559.

Brigadier General Leo Francisco, Western Visayas police chief, said the Regional Intelligence Division has yet to finish the threat assessment on EGOs who are deemed to be under threat.

Pending the result of the threat assessment by the RID, “we are providing security on a case-to-case basis,” he earlier said.

By case-to-case basis, some will be given security if they’re going on official functions.

Once their threats are validated, permanent security detail will be provided to them.

But Francisco said there are officials who are not keen on being given police security.

In verifying the threat level, Francisco earlier said that they have pre-determined guidelines and criteria.

It will be the PSPG (Police Security and Protection Group) and the PNP chief that will approve permanent or long-term security detail.