Question & AnswerQ&A (PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 11)
The decree seeks to amend certain sections of Republic Act No. 5487, the Private Security Agency Law, to strengthen regulatory powers over private security agencies and guards, establish safeguards against personal interests in license issuance, and provide stiff penalties for violations.
A watchman or security guard is any person who offers or renders personal service to watch or secure residential or business establishments or any building, compound, or area for hire or compensation or as an employee thereof.
Any person, association, partnership, or corporation who recruits, trains, musters, furnishes, or solicits individuals or business firms, private or government-owned or controlled corporations, to engage the services of watchmen or security guards.
Any Filipino citizen or a 100% Filipino-owned and controlled corporation, partnership, or association with a minimum capital of five thousand pesos can organize such an agency.
The operator or manager must be at least 25 years old, a college graduate and/or a commissioned officer in the inactive service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, of good moral character, without prior convictions involving moral turpitude, and not dishonorably discharged from the Armed Forces, mentally incompetent, addicted to narcotics, or a habitual drunkard.
No, elective or appointive government employees involved in implementing or enforcing this law, and their relatives within the third civil degree by affinity or consanguinity, are prohibited from holding any direct or indirect interest in any security or watchman agency.
The Chief of Constabulary may suspend or cancel the licenses of private watchmen, security guards, or their agencies found violating this Act or its implementing rules and regulations.
Violators shall suffer imprisonment from ten to fifteen years and fines ranging from ten thousand to fifteen thousand pesos, as may be directed by a military court, tribunal, or commission.
One reason was the presence of numerous armed watchmen or security guards employed by private or government-owned firms who were not covered by the original law and the need to impose adequate safeguards and regulatory powers.
No, except for those agencies existing at the promulgation of the decree, a person is prohibited from organizing or having interest in more than one such agency.