Module 1

Development and Evolution of Security

This module discusses the roots of security during the prehistoric times, the
ancient period and middle ages. It likewise touches the evolution and development of
security to its present time. It also discusses the present setting of our security today.
Historical Roots of Security
The historical roots of security can be traced back to
thousands of years when early men recognize the need to
protect themselves from other men and more often from wild
animals. Initially, they learned to live from caves to protect
from extreme weather and ferocious animals. They also
taught of elevating their home in trees and mountains. They
crafted weapon out of stones and metals, build fires and
houses to ward off unwanted predators.
Four thousand years before the birth of Christ in the
Nile, Valley, man knew law enforcement which security
(Corpuz, W.M. & Delizo D.B.S., 2011). The Chinese, the Greeks, the Hebrews, the
Persians are the Roman empires are replete with historical background of security.
Security or law enforcement more often than not appearance to be military
troops. During the time that the countries were governed by royal families, military
bodyguards or guardsmen picked from the elite troops comprised of the household
troops assigned to royal families.
In Egypt, Pharaohs hired private security guards for
personal protection like the Mameluks of Egypt. It also created the
Medyas, a form of police forces whose duties include guarding of
the tombs and apprehending thieves. They also introduced the
use of dogs as guards and protectors.
Ancient Rome where emperors had security guards for
personal, family and property security. Famous among them were
the Praetorian Guards of Ancient Rome. They act as personal
guards of the Emperor; their primary duty was to protect the
Emperor from assassination and other forms of attack against the
Emperor.
It created also the first organized police force called Vigiles
of Rome, or Vigiles Urbani (watchmen of the city), which had the
primary task of firefighting and policing. The Vigiles acted as night
watch, apprehending thieves, keeping an eye out for burglars and
hunting down runaway slaves, and were on occasion used to maintain order in the
streets. They dealt primarily with petty crimes and looked for disturbances of the peace
while they patrolled the streets.
The history of securing data reaches back just as far
as ancient history. Ancient Egypt is accredited with
creating encryption to disguise or protect sensitive
information called hieroglyphics. In antiquity the Spartans
used the transposition cipher, which involved changing the
positions of the letters within documents. Julius Caesar is
noted as being the first person to use encryption for
military purposes, sending documents by shifting the
letters in the Guards at the Vatican in Rome.

In middle age England, the Frank Pledge

System was organized that requires the thanes or
landowners to protect and police their territory. While
the Freeman formed the tything and the members are
called Tythingmen. Tythingmen elected a leader called
“Reeve”. The Reeve handled complaints from the
place called “shires”. The origin of the word “sheriff”. In
modern England, the gretest influence in the history of
security came with the introduction of the Bowstreet
Runners. It is a group of men organized to arrest offenders. It was organized by Henry
Fielding, a magistrate in London, in 1749.
Fifty years later, the Metro Police Act of 1829 was enacted. The law that created
the first modern police force in London England, called the Metropolitan Police Service.
This law was passed through the initiative of Sir Robert Peel, a member of the
Parliament. Sir Peel was recognized as the father of modern policing system.
In the colonial period in the United States (Bobier, D.b., 2013), new settlers from
England, Ireland and Scotland came to America shores bringing with them this British
approach to policing. At the time, law enforcement officers had to deal with rampant
crime in US Cities and had little time and resources left to deal with the protection of
private property. Hence, citizens who wanted protection for their private properties had
to depend on the armed immigrants who prepared to deal with criminals. This
watchman form of security was to become the early version of private security practices
that endure to this day. (Corpuz, W.M. & Delizo D.B.S., 2011) Among the pioneer in this
endeavor was the Pinkerton,s Detective Agency which offered to protect property and
pursue offenders for a fee.
History of Security in the Philippines

Under Philippines setting, primitively evolved from the practice of the different
tribes to select able bodied young men to protect their villages, not from the assault of
criminals, but from the depredation of wild animals which prey on their crops and
livestock’s during the night.
In the arrival of the colonials from Spain, the aspect of security developed with
the introduction of formal group or forces to guard the archipelago. Policing during the
Spanish Regime was inherently a part of the military system. The locally organized
police forces, although performing civil duties and seemingly created for the sole
purpose of maintaining peace, were in fact directly commanded by the colonial military
government.
Police forces organizations during the Spanish regime were:
Carabineros de Seguridad Publico. They were officer on horse which was
organized in 1712 for the purpose of carrying out the policies of the Spanish
government. Later, this kind of police organization discharged the duties of a port,
harbor and river police. this was armed and considered as the mounted police;
Next were the Guardrilleros. this was a body of rural police organized in each
town that was created by the Royal Decree of January 8, 1836. This police force was
composed of 5% of the able-bodied male inhabitants of each town or province, and
each member should serve at least 3 years. They were also known as the Cuardillo
In 1852, the Guardia Civil came into being. This was the police organization
created by the Royal Decree issued by the Spanish government on February 12, 1852.
It relived the Spanish Peninsular Troops of their works in policing towns. Its consisted of
a body of Filipino Policemen organized originally in each of the provincial capitals of the
central provinces of Luzon under the command of Alcalde (Governor).

Guadia Civil
After the Spanish Era, another master begins, the Americans came to our
country to conquer and rule the Philippine Republic. While the American Soldiers were
busy fighting the tug army of Gen. Aguinaldo, Gov. Taft, established a police which shall
maintain peace and order. On January 9, 1901, Manila Police was formally organized
by virtue of Act No. 175 of the Philippine Commission. Thereafter adjoining places
follow [Link] the colonial period of American (Bobier, D.b., 2013), the constable
became the forebear of the present national police. During that time, a couple of
constable officers were adequate to maintain the peace and order in the town and sitios.
During World War II, the country was under the Japanese Occupation. the
Japanese Military Police known as “Kempetai” was held responsible in maintaining
peace and order in Manila.

Kempetai

After the war (Bobier, D.b., 2013), the Indian national or the Bombay pioneered
as the watchman who protected a specific building or commercial establishment.
In the Philippines (Corpuz, W.M. & Delizo D.B.S., 2011), it would be wise to trace
the step leading to the final signing by then President Ferdinand Marcos on June 13,
1969 of Republic Act 5487, the Private Security Agency Law. In this law assigned the
most important role of Security Guard Forces in assisting the Police in its mission to
safeguard lives and properties. Under the Philippine Constabulary (PC), the supervision
of the private security agency falls within the PC Supervisory Unit for Security and
Investigation Agencies (PCSUSIA).
In the Passage of R.A. 6975 creating the Philippine National Police, PCSUSIA
became Supervisory Office for Security and Investigation Agencies. On January 01,
1995, it was renamed as PNP Security Agencies and Guards Supervision Division
(SAGSD). In September 24, 2009, NAPOLCOM Resolution No. 2010-321, SAGSD was
renamed to Supervisory Office for Security and Investigation Agencies (SOSIA).

Security in the Present Time

Today (Corpuz, W.M. & Delizo D.B.S., 2011), the role of the industrial security
business is indispensable as far as the economic progress of our country is concerned.
The economic success of one country depends on the stability of its society. It can be
noted that most if not all economically secured countries are free from any external
threat. Their socio-economic advancement relied so much on the maintenance of their
peace and order.
 At present (Bobier, D.b., 2013), private security has a significant role in the
preservation and safeguard of peace and order in the country. It matches police efforts
by providing additional security during emergency responses and public events as well
as safety precaution and protection of property and assets.
Although, the respect and professionalization of security field has not greatly
leap. The role of security has significantly been evident as among the first responder of
the police and new training was implemented for them to need the challenges. This is
true when the PNP it self replace its men in manning the gates with the so called “Blue
Guard” or Private Security Guard showing the acknowledgement by the national police
of the capability of our private security to protect the nation.
Security in every organization is everybody’s business (Corpuz, W.M. & Delizo
D.B.S., 2011). This means that the avoidance of loss and damage to properties as well
as the prevention of injury or loss of life because of hazards is not possible without the
active support of all individuals within an organization. Among the Filipinos however,
personnel of organizations and business enterprises are virtually leaving their security
and protection only to the members of their security force. It is unfortunate also that
many business establishments regard security personnel as mere compliance and
sometimes as lowly as props in the company.
Sad to note also is the adamant support by company management in the security
department providing the least funding and minimal backing of resources for the fullest
protection of the company. Oftentimes questioning the effort of security head in
upgrading or improving security measures as unnecessary and no relation to return of
investment. Well in-fact, the majority of the losses a company incurred does not come
from outside threats but instead within the company.
Many fails to recognize the importance of a blue clad personnel oftentimes called
“Blue Guards or Sikyu”. Most company workers including the management people are
not aware that the responsibilities of an assigned security ranges from the single
centavo spent for the establishment of the business enterprises because the security
personnel should guard the company from the smallest possible lost to the possible
total destruction of the business that could be cause by impending hazards.
 The development of computer age, eyes are now more focused in using this
technology were in fact it should rather complement the men in blue uniform. Nothing
can replace the role of a uniformed/nonuniformed security personnel in terms of
decision making and other advantage on individual personnel. But we cannot discount
(Bobier, D.b., 2013), just as human labor has been displaced by machines in other
industries, it also affect individual security who might become obsolete in the face of
computer assisted technologies.
The combination of rising technology and the security industry’s rapid growth and
recognition in organization comes the necessary improvement in the professionalism
among security officers.

Modules References:
Bobier, D.b., (2013). Industrial security management. Chapter House Publishing
Incorporated.
Corpuz, W.M. & Delizo D.B.S., (2011). Industrial security management manual.
Wiseman’s Books Trading, Inc.