The Philippine National Police urged security agencies and business owners to prohibit security guards from wearing costumes while on duty this holiday season.

All guards must wear prescribed uniforms, according to assistant chief Senior Supt. Ildebrandi Usana of the PNP Supervisory Office for Security and Investigation Agencies (PNP-SOSIA).

“Hindi namin ina-allow na iyong mga gwardiya na pinagsusuot ng mga kasuotan na di naaayon sa prescribed uniform ng security guard. Hinihikayat natin ang ating mga security agencies na abisuhan ang kanilang mga security personnel pati mga clients nila not to allow their security guards to wear Santa Claus uniforms with due respect to the occasion,” Usana said.

PNP-SOSIA said costumed guards could confuse the public because it will be hard to determine security personnel from establishment-goers.

Costumes could also hinder guards from properly carrying out their duties.

“In the first place, they should not be wearing that because that’s the function of maybe other personnel ng establishment,” Usana said.

“Security personnel sila so merong hindi magandang klase ng pag-deploy ng security personnel because they are supposed to be wearing the prescribed uniform and yet pinagsuot sila ng hindi nararapat sa kanila bilang security personnel.

“Doon sa interior, some hotel management would rather na their security personnel should be wearing other kinds of attire. Dito po naman sa security undertaking nila, they cannot exercise that just like what happened to the Resorts World, naka-barong iyong ladyguard. Anything can happen. Posible iyan na ang psychology ng isang personnel na naka-barong, hindi niya maisip na magawa ang trabaho niya bilang security kung walang kakailanganin sa kanyang uniporme tulad ng baril,” Usana added.

PNP-SOSIA said guards have the right to decline wearing a costume.

Guards who do not wear their prescribed uniform will be fined P50,000, while the security agency will be fined up to P30,000.