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By Anthony
Vargas, Reporter
AT least 10
senatorial candidates from the administration and opposition tickets
will be assigned policemen as close-in security because of threats
they have received.
At the same
time, police officers assigned to protect Chinese Filipinos from
kidnappers and other criminal elements would be withdrawn.
Chief Supt.
Romeo Hilomen, chief of the Philippine National Police’s Police
Security and Protection Office, said in a weekly forum in Camp Crame
Tuesday at least two policemen would be assigned to each candidate.
The candidates
given police security are Michael Defensor, Prospero Pichay Jr.,
Ralph Recto, Luis “Chavit” Singson and Cesar Montano from the
administration’s Team Unity, and Senate President Manuel Villar,
Sen. Panfilo Lacson, Tarlac Rep. Benigno Aquino III and Sen. Francis
Pangilinan from the Genuine Opposition.
“Threats [on
the senatorial candidates] are not [that] serious… but there
threats,” Hilomen said in justifying the security.
He said the
police escorts for the senatorial candidates have been approved by
the PNP chief, Director General Oscar Calderon, and the Commission
on Elections.
Hilomen said
from 30 to 40 congressional bets have also requested for close-in
police protection.
“We have
forwarded the request made [by congressional bets] to the Comelec
for approval or exemption,” he said.
The PNP
spokesman, Chief Supt. Samuel Pagdilao, said the security detail
will come from PNP headquarters in Camp Crame and not from the
regional, provincial or municipal police offices.
Hilomen said
the 100 Chinese Filipinos, or Tsinoys, with security details had
been notified their escorts would be pulled out after the elections
in May.
He said most
of the Tsinoys with police security had been victims of kidnappings
or are likely targets of kidnap gangs.
Hilomen said
the Tsinoys could hire private bodyguards.
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