The National Security Bureau (NSB) has designated three teams from the Special Service Command Center to undertake security measures and personal protection for the three main parties’ presidential tickets.
NSB Director-General Yang Kuo-chiang (楊國強) oversaw the assignment of the units yesterday, which was done by drawing lots at the command center, with the process recorded and made public to help ensure fairness and impartiality.
Yang said the three teams are to provide the highest level of personal protection and conduct to safeguard each of the three main presidential and vice presidential tickets as they gear up for national election campaigns in the run-up to the Jan. 16 vote.
He said the teams are ready to commence work once the candidates complete their official registration at the Central Election Commission (CEC) on Nov. 24 and will carry out their duties until 24 hours after the commission posts the official election results.
Only three candidates have announced their intention to run for the nation’s top post: Eric Chu (朱立倫) of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT), Democratic Progressive Party Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) and People First Party Chairman James Soong (宋楚瑜).
According to senior officials, the bureau convened 220 personnel — drawn from the ranks of officers, including a colonel, as well as captains and lieutenants — for months of rigorous training to prepare and assemble four teams of personal security guards for the presidential campaign period.
The officers received training that includes military field operations, advanced defensive driving, emergency medical treatment, protection against snipers, security checks at campaign venues, working with sniffer dogs to detect explosives and other specialized training programs, bureau officials said.
In related developments, the Taipei City Police Department said it has set up security units that are to be responsible for leading presidential candidates’ motorcades.
The department’s Public Security Corps said its personnel are to lead and trail motorcades, driving in cars and on motorcycles.
Due to the high level of security involved and as the presidential candidates have their own security teams, coordination on assignments and area of jurisdiction will be made in consultation with the bureau, a senior police official said.
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