PNP prohibits security guards, homeowners groups from confiscating driver's licenses

MANILA - The Philippine National Police (PNP) is strictly prohibiting security guards and homeowners associations (HOAs) from confiscating driver's licenses that are issued by the Land Transportation Office (LTO).

In a memorandum dated June 15, 2020, the PNP Civil Security Group-Supervisory Office for Security and Investigation Agencies (PNP-SOSIA) said that there were incidents of security guards in private villages and subdivisions requiring visiting drivers to surrender their licenses before entering the premises.

According to the PNP-SOSIA, some homeowners groups direct security guards to get the licenses.

Authorities said only LTO personnel and those authorized by the agency are the ones who can secure or seize licenses from drivers. Security guards and HOAs are not allowed to confiscate licenses, even on a temporary basis.

Visiting or traveling drivers who wish to enter a private village or gated subdivisions can present any valid-issued IDs to security guards, who should always be courteous and always uphold professional conduct and ethics, the PNP-SOSIA said.

The PNP also issued the memo to all private security agencies, private detective agencies, private security training institutions, government guard units, company guard forces, and others in the private security industry.