THE Philippine National Police headed by Director General Nicanor A. Bartolome yesterday paid tribute to the 400,000-strong private security guards helping keep peace and order.

“There have been hundreds of stories where security guards have prevented the commission of a crime, foiled a robbery attempt, apprehended a fleeing crime suspect and even killed armed criminals in actual gunfights. These are true stories which depict the role our security guards have been playing in the campaign against crime and terrorism,” said Senior Superintendent Buenaventura M. Viray Jr., officer-in-charge of the PNP Supervisory Office for Security and Investigation Agencies.

The official made the remarks as the PNP Civil Security Group marked its 31st founding anniversary by becoming a truly ISO-certified office, a world-class office giving excellent service to the public.

The PNP-CSG headed by Chief Supt. Roque G. Ramirez supervises the PNP-SOSIA and the PNP Firearms and Explosives Office headed by Chief Supt. Napoleon R. Estilles.

Viray said private security guards are the PNP’s biggest ‘force multipliers’ against criminality and terrorism as they guard and patrol different places of public convergence including hotels, shopping malls, parks and public utility terminals of the Metro Railway Transit and Light Railway Transit stations.

Two security guards, Nick Sumagaysay and Elwen Merle were honored by the PNP-CSG for risking their lives when they traded shots with a group of motorcycle-riding thieves in Muntinlupa City on  October 24 killing one of the armed suspects and foiling their attempt to steal P380,000 in cash.

“We recognize the bravery displayed by the two security guards. This is a fine example of how private security guards play a major role in keeping peace and order and foiling criminality,” said Ramirez in commending the two guards.