Security Guards in the Philippines
Written on Jun 7, 2026
If it seems like there are more security guards than police officers in the Philippines, it's because there are more security guards than police officers. I usually don't see police officers unless there's a checkpoint.
In those cases, I usually see too many in one place. Also called security officers, I see security guards in places where I don't expect to see them, but they're there nonetheless.
Of course, I see them where I expect to see them. Places like banks and other places that handle large sums of money always have one or more security guards visible.
Security Guards at SM City Malls
The first time I entered an SM City mall was in 2006, and I was mildly surprised to be patted down by a security guard at the door. Every SM City mall has at least two guards at every entrance, usually one male and one female.
When you enter, the line splits in two directions, one for male and one for female patrons. The guards perform simple pat-downs to make sure weapons aren't being carried inside. It should be obvious, but the female guards pat down women and the male guards pat down men.
The guards will also check large handbags because large handbags can carry more than just makeup kits and mobile phones. They won't do a thorough inspection. They'll just look inside briefly most of the time.
Security Guards in Other Places
Large stores, like the Royal Subic at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone, will have one or more guards at every entrance. Banks will usually have guards both inside and outside. Some even have metal detectors.
Many of the guards are armed, some with pistols and some with shotguns. Most of them are friendly. I haven't met an unfriendly one yet. I even have one bilas (a sister-in-law's husband) who's a security guard for the BDO bank branches.
I've noticed some large stores in Olongapo without any guards at all at the entrances. Those places are usually just grocery stores, not carrying high-value items.
The United States vs. the Philippines
Security guards tend to be less visible in the United States. The malls have them, but you won't see them unless something happens. The guard stations use closed-circuit monitoring systems to watch what's going on in various areas, and the guards won't spring into action until they're needed.
There are guards at many grocery stores, but they're usually called something else, like store detectives. A lot of guards are plain clothed, so they don't attract attention. It's easier to catch shoplifters that way.
Security guards are way more visible in the Philippines. Being a security guard in the United States usually isn't a career choice, but in the Philippines, it's a popular career choice.
Image by Rusty Ferguson at Flickr / CC BY-ND 2.0