Question & AnswerQ&A (Republic Act No. 11917)
The short title of Republic Act No. 11917 is "The Private Security Services Industry Act."
The primary policy is for the State to recognize the vital role of the private sector in protection and peacekeeping and strengthen regulation and quality standards of private security personnel to complement law enforcement authorities.
LESP refers to a permit issued by the Chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) or representative recognizing a natural person qualified to perform duties as a security professional or training personnel.
LTO is a permit issued by the Chief PNP authorizing a person to employ and deploy security personnel or establish and operate a private detective or security agency upon compliance with regulatory requirements.
Any Filipino citizen or juridical entity wholly owned and controlled by Filipino citizens may organize a PSA, provided they do not employ more than two thousand private security professionals.
Must be at least 25 years old, hold a bachelor's degree, a part owner or shareholder with voting rights, of good moral character, no conviction involving moral turpitude, physically and mentally fit, and passed neuro-psychiatric and drug tests.
The maximum period of validity of the LTO is five (5) years, subject to renewal, though the Chief PNP may set a shorter validity period with adjusted fees.
The minimum administrative fee charged shall not be less than twenty percent (20%) of the total contract cost, subject to adjustment by the Department of Labor and Employment.
Conditions include participation in armed conflict against the government, using force in elections, involvement in human rights violations or paramilitary activities, misuse of surveillance violating privacy, gross negligence, operator convicted of crime, labor law violations, or if the PSA is a detriment to peace and order.
They shall be fined not less than Fifty thousand pesos (₱50,000) and not more than One hundred thousand pesos (₱100,000). The same applies to a PSA deploying such unlicensed or expired license personnel.