MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Elections has allowed policemen and soldiers to serve as security escorts to election candidates who are facing security threats.

In an 11-page resolution promulgated late Wednesday, the Comelec en banc said candidates for mayor and higher positions can seek security from soldiers, policemen and National Bureau of Investigation personnel if the circumstances warrant.

 “When circumstances warrant, including but not limited to threats to life and security, a candidate to public office, including incumbent public officers, and private individual, may, upon application, be assigned regular members of the PNP or the AFP or the National Bureau of Investigation.....to provide security for the duration of the election period,” it said.

The resolution said that a maximum of two personnel from three agencies shall be assigned as security escorts. They can be augmented with an additional two personnel from “duly licensed/authorized protective agents and private detective agencies", according to Comelec.

The resolution, however, deviates from a provision of a Memorandum of Agreement it signed with the defense and military establishments, which aims to insulate the military from partisan politics.

Among others, the MOA prohibits soldiers from acting as security escorts to candidates and providing security to polling places and to members of the Bureau of Election Inspectors, Comelec personnel and other government personnel performing election duties, including the accredited citizens’ arms.

The MOA was forged on Oct. 12, 2006, about a year after the Hello Garci scandal broke out, principally to insulate the military from partisan politics.. Four military generals were mentioned in the Hello Garci tapes to have taken part in partisan political activity during the 2004 presidential elections.

Three of the generals, including now Presidential Management Staff head and congressional candidate Hermogenes Esperon, reportedly helped in the rigging of the elections to ensure President Arroyo’s victory.
 
The fourth general, Franciso Gudani, allegedly supported an opponent of the President. Gudani later appeared before the Senate where he detailed how the results of the elections were manipulated in Lanao del Norte.

Resolution aims to control private armies

Lt. Col. Romeo Brawner, Armed Forces public affairs office chief, said the Comelec resolution will help in controlling the proliferation of private armed groups during the elections.

Brawner said the other provisions of the MOA remain including the prohibition of the counting of the votes in military camps. He said soldiers are barred from going to a distance of 50 meters to polling places.

They are also barred from riding the same vehicle carrying election paraphernalia.

“The other provisions in the MOA will remain...We can provide escort (in the transportation of election paraphernalia) but we should be in other vehicles. The MOA still stands but some provisions are superseded by this (Comelec resolution),” he said.

“The main objective of this (resolution) is that we are trying to control our (loose) guns during elections. We are trying to do away or try to control private armed groups because no one is allowed to  go out with their firearms, except the personnel of the AFP, of the PNP and NBI or any protective agencies as per authority of the Comelec,” said Brawner.

When asked if the assignment of two AFP, PNP or NBI escorts is already a guarantee against rebel forces, Brawner said candidates can request for area security if they wish to go to rebel-infested areas.