26 OFFICIALS ‘UNDER THREAT’: PRO-6 finishes risk evaluation of 37,832 elected officials

By Jennifer P. Rendon

The Police Regional Office (PRO-6) has completed the risk evaluation of 37,832 elected government officials (EGOs) all over the region.

As of March 23, 2023, all provincial and city police offices are 100 percent compliant in conducting the evaluation of all EGOs in their areas of responsibility.

The total number of EGOs is negligibly lower than the one earlier provided by the lower unit, particularly that of the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO).

Antique PPO added one EGO after it added Senator Loren Legarda to the list.

Most of the 37,832 EGOs are in Iloilo province with 15,804.

Negros Occidental has only 5,907 EGOs; Antique with 5,459; Capiz with 4,428; Aklan with 3,124; Iloilo City with 1,617; Guimaras with 934; and Bacolod City with only 559.

From 25 the previous day, PRO-6 added another official deemed to be under threat.

The 26 officials are 0.068 percent of the 37,832 EGOs in the region.

The evaluation indicated that 18 of the 26 are considered as high-risk while eight are medium-risk.

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

Two officials in Bacolod City are 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).

Senator Legarda is at medium risk.

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.

“The validation is ongoing, except for Sen. Legarda na may PSPG at PNP permanent security. Others are still to be evaluated,” he said.

The PSPG is a PNP unit that secures and protects elected and appointed national government officials; members of the diplomatic corps and visiting foreign dignitaries; delegates and/or participants during special events, private individuals authorized to be given protection and vital government installations.

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 are 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.

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