Tag: security guard

SOSIA issues advisory on the confiscation of driver’s license by security guards

SOSIA issues advisory on the confiscation of driver’s license by security guards

carlocarrasco

SOSIA issues advisory on the confiscation of driver’s license by security guards

Hey readers! Has any security guard confiscated your driver’s license in recent times? The latest news and details below deserve your attention.

The Supervisory Office for Security and Investigation Agencies (SOSIA) issued on June 15 a new advisory signed by Acting Chief Police Colonel Sidney N. Villaflor regarding the confiscation of driver’s license by security guards. This is pursuant to Republic Act Number 4136 (An Act to Compile The Laws Relative To Land Transportation and Traffic Rules, To Create a Land Transportation Commission and For Other Purposes) regarding the power to secure and/or confiscate drivers licenses are lodged under the capacity of LTO personnel and others who are duly deputized by the said Agency.

Below for your viewing and reading is the picture of the June 15, 2020 advisory from SOSIA.

SOSIAJun15

Item on the advisory states as follows: This pertains to incidents wherein security guards deployed in private villages and subdivisions require the drivers of vehicles to surrender their driver’s licenses prior entering the premises, as directed by the Home Owners Associations’ (HOAs’) leadership.

Item makes clear that the power to secure and/or confiscate driver’s licenses are lodged under the capacity of personnel of the Land Transportation Office (LTO), and others who got deputized by the said Agency.

Item is the hot one and it makes clear who or what organizations do NOT have any authority to confiscate driver’s licenses. It reads as follows: the HOAs and the security guards of subdivisions, villages and condominiums are not authorized under traffic laws to take custody, even on a temporary basis, the license issued by the LTO.

For more insight, Section 29 of RA 4136 states as follows:

Confiscation of Driver’s License. – Law enforcement and peace officers of other agencies duly deputized by the Director  shall, in apprehending a driver for any violation of this Act or any regulations issued pursuant thereto, or of local traffic rules and regulations not contrary to any provisions of this Act, confiscate the license of the driver concerned and issue a receipt prescribed and issued by the Bureau  therefor which shall authorize the driver to operate a motor vehicle for a period not exceeding seventy-two hours from the time and date of issue of said receipt. The period so fixed in the receipt shall not be extended, and shall become invalid thereafter. Failure of the driver to settle his case within fifteen days from the date of apprehension will be a ground for the suspension and/or revocation of his license.

Item clarifies that drivers of vehicles entering the above stated properties may present to the security guards any valid ID cards issued by the government. As such, the security guards are supposed to be professional in their work while being courteous to everyone.

Here in South Metro Manila, the cities of Parañaque, Las Piñas and Muntinlupa have a lot of subdivisions or villages combined. From time to time, I saw written feedback by other uses on social media that some incidents occurred in which drivers trying to enter a village had no choice but to surrender the driver’s license because other government-issued ID cards (example: COMELEC ID card) were not accepted by the security guard at the gate.

Now that the SOSIA June 15, 2020 advisory above makes clear that HOAs and security guards are not authorized to confiscate driver’s licenses at all, drivers are more protected. In fact, Section 19 of RA 4136 specifically states:  The license shall be carried by the driver at all times when operating a motor vehicle, and shall be shown and/or surrendered for cause and upon demand to any person with authority under this Act to confiscate the same.

So there you have it, my readers, SOSIA’s June 15, 2020 advisory is a big reminder when it comes to the driver’s license and encountering security guards.

If anyone of you motorists was forced to surrender your driver’s license to an insistent security guard when trying to enter or was traveling inside a private subdivision, please feel free to inform me about it privately (send me a message at Carlo.Carrasco@gmail.com) or by commenting below if you want to express it openly.

Also feel free to print a hard copy of this article (which includes the picture of the June 15, 2020 SOSIA advisory) to bring with you when traveling to other villages. Thank you.

This article was published for public information related to travel and local communities.

For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments.

My Observations: Beware of Discreet, Sign-carrying Beggar in Alabang

My Observations: Beware of Discreet, Sign-carrying Beggar in Alabang

carlocarrasco

If you want to prevent yourselves or your loved ones from becoming victims, then you should read what I encountered today (March 18, 2019).

This morning, coming from the direction of Festival Mall in Filinvest City, Muntinlupa City, I was about to enter the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) branch at the ground floor of the Insular Life Corporate Center along Commerce Avenue.

As I was preparing myself, a thin, dark-skinned young man wearing dark shorts, dark t-shirt and slippers called my attention from behind. He carried a light bag on his back.

So I looked back carefully and then he said “Sir, patulong po.” (meaning he needs my help) and showed me a noticeable handy sign (like a card) with words written on it emphasizing that he needs money to solve his problem. From that moment on, I figured out he was a beggar trying to manipulate me discreetly (he did not even open his palm to show begging).

I just ignored him and went inside BPI Insular Life branch to do my transaction at one of the ATMs (automatic teller machines). As the ATM I used was processing my transaction, I took a few peaks outside and noticed that the guy was still standing outside on the lookout for other people he could approach.

Right after I completed my ATM transaction, I took it upon myself to photograph him for this very article. I also figured out it was a rare chance of mine to find out if he was trying to scam people given his very discreet approach on asking for money.

So I walked outside with my smartphone and its camera ready. As he noticed me nearing him, he showed me again that sign and asked for money. Then as I pulled out my smartphone to photograph him, he quickly put his sign away and faced the other direction trying to hide his face.

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This is the first shot I managed to take as he hid himself when he noticed my smartphone. The thing he is holding with his left hand is the sign/card with a written message to convince people to give him money for his “problem”. At this moment, he knew his discreet begging was exposed.

After taking the first photograph (the one right above), I still aimed my smartphone camera at him and I asked him to face me and challenged him to beg while being seen. He refused to do it and kept hiding himself by facing away from me.

Check out the pictures below.

 

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By the time I took this picture, he was resisting and decided to keep facing away and hide the beggar’s sign. He refused to face me and beg knowing that he was exposed. His earlier courage of discreetly begging for money was gone.
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The discreet beggar walking away.

As the discreet beggar walked away, I went back inside BPI Insular Life branch and alerted the security guard about the beggar.

The guard said he remembered seeing that beggar a few times from before begging within the Filinvest City spots. He also remembered that from time to time, adults like the one pictured would beg discreetly for money just outside their bank.

More notably, the security guard said that it is illegal for anyone to commit begging within Filinvest City. He added that the discreet beggar I encountered was very lucky that there was no Filinvest City security guard present otherwise he would have been apprehended for committing a violation.

The guard also warned that such beggars who use signs and words (to convince people to give money) might be members of local crime syndicates.

By the time my short talk with the bank security guard ended, the discreet beggar was several meters away heading towards the direction of South Supermarket.

Out of curiosity, I decided to follow him temporarily to determine if I could spot him trying to find a new spot to beg at others.

I walked some meters towards the discreet beggar and after a minute, I guessed he could have decided to go home. I took one last picture of him walking away before deciding to let him go.

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The final picture I took of the discreet beggar walking to the distance.

This incident I am writing about was NOT the first time I encountered a beggar along the roads of Filinvest City. What makes this different is that the beggar used a handy sign while saying only a few words to beg.

I have a strong mental defense and I always practice caution (including awareness of my surrounding). It’s natural for me to resist the manipulation attempts of street beggars.

If I were to give out money to help people who really need help, I would not give to beggars  roaming around and I certainly discourage you from giving to them especially if the begging constitutes a local violation. Surely you would not want to give your money to a beggar who happens to be a member of a crime gang!

If you want to give out loose cash to help people who really need help, I recommend you give to legitimate organizations like CBN Asia for example complete with legitimate ways to do it backed with record keeping.

Going back to encountering the beggars who roam around and near you, better have a defensive mindset and be ready to protect not only your money but also yourselves. Also be ready to call the local police or the nearest security guard if ever the beggar victimizes you.

Thank you for reading. If you find this article to be engaging, please click the like button below and also please consider sharing this article to others. Also my fantasy book The World of Havenor is still available in paperback and e-book format. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me as well. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco.