Amending Certain Sections Of Republic Act Numbered Fifty-Four Hundred Eighty-Seven Otherwise Known As, "The Private Security Agency Law."

Case Overview and Summary

Summary of Presidential Decree No. 11 Amending Republic Act No. 5487 (Private Security Agency Law)

Definitions and Coverage
- Defines "watchman or security guard" and "watchman or security guard agency" to include those providing security services to residential, business establishments, buildings, compounds, areas, logging concessions, agricultural, mining or pasture lands. (Section 1)
- Covers private firms, companies, corporations including government-owned or controlled corporations employing around 30,000 armed watchmen or security guards not previously covered by the law. (Whereas clause)

Licensing Requirements
- Requires a minimum capital of 5,000 pesos, 100% Filipino-owned and controlled, for organizing a security or watchman agency. (Section 2)
- Prohibits a person from having interest in more than one agency, except for existing agencies at the time of the decree. (Section 2)
- Requires the operator or manager to 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, with no criminal record or disqualifications. (Section 2)
- Prohibits elective or appointive government employees involved in implementing the law, and their relatives up to the third civil degree, from holding interest in any security guard or watchman agency. (Section 2)

Regulatory Powers
- Allows the Chief of Constabulary to suspend or cancel licenses of private watchmen, security guards, or agencies found violating the law or regulations. (Section 3)

Penalties
- Imposes imprisonment of 10 to 15 years and a fine of not less than 10,000 pesos nor more than 15,000 pesos for violations of the law, decree, and regulations. (Section 4)

Implementation
- Authorizes the Chief of Constabulary to promulgate necessary rules and regulations to carry out the provisions of the decree. (Section 5)