Former president Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) is eligible to have two bodyguards, and can apply for more every two months, the National Police Agency (NPA) said on Sunday in response to claims that Ma had requested eight bodyguards.
The security detail that has followed Ma since he left office eight years ago is to be demobilized and reorganized, but Ma could apply for continued protection, the agency said, adding that a detail of one or two officers is normally assigned to a former president at their request.
In theory, more officers could be assigned if the protected person has reason to believe they or their family members’ lives are in danger, it said.
Photo: Taipei Times
To increase their security detail, Ma must apply in writing to the Ministry of the Interior, which reviews the requests before determining whether more officers are necessary.
“This is done every two months, and if the reason for the request is still valid after two months, the individual or organization making the request can apply again,” it said.
For example, former vice president Annette Lu (呂秀蓮) has requested four officers assigned to her security detail, the NPA said, adding that Ma would need to apply every two months just as Lu does.
A police officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, expressed concern that, while it is understandable that politicians would want more security, they are often assigned more officers than needed.
This would become a burden on taxpayers and waste police resources, the officer said.
“Outgoing presidents and vice presidents still have security needs, but the NPA should properly allocate staff resources based on real needs,” lawyer Chan
Chin-chien (詹晉鑒) said.
“The number of officers assigned to protect an outgoing president or vice president should never exceed the number protecting the current head of state or other current high-level officials,” Chan said.
A total of 109 officers are assigned to the protection of 33 current and former officials, with 36 of those officers assigned to Premier Chen Chien-jen (陳建仁).
Former legislative speaker You Si-kun (游錫?) had six security guards (including four at his residence), while Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu (韓國瑜) has just one.
Most former high-ranking officials have security details. Former vice presidents Lien Chan (連戰), Vincent Siew (蕭萬長) and Wu Den-yih (吳敦義), as well as former legislative speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) and former premier Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌), are assigned two security officers each.
Additional reporting by Chien Li-chung
The Ministry of Finance this afternoon announced the winning numbers for the March-April uniform invoice lottery. The winning number for the NT$10 million (US$318,060) special prize is 19531471, and the winning number for the NT$2 million grand prize is 85941329. Three numbers were drawn for the NT$200,000 first prize: 07225810, 20231230 and 83518781. Those with receipts matching the last seven digits of any of the first-prize numbers will win the NT$40,000 second prize, while those matching the last six digits will win the NT$10,000 third prize. Those whose receipts match the last five digits of the first-prize numbers can claim the NT$4,000 fourth prize,
SIX SUBSIDIES: The monthly allowance for older farmers is to increase to NT$10,000, and NT$5,000 is to be given to homemakers under the national pension system, Lai said The government is to implement major welfare policies for disadvantaged groups, including raising the monthly allowance for older farmers to NT$10,000 and providing homemakers with NT$5,000 per month, President William Lai (賴清德) said yesterday. Lai made the remarks during a visit to Wangling Temple in Chiayi County, saying that the planned increases were being introduced amid economic growth and an increase in tax revenue. Touting a policy, in which the government plans to provide a monthly allowance of NT$5,000 for every child under the age of 18 in a bid to address Taiwan’s low birthrate, Lai said that if received for the
STAY COOL: The HPA recommended that people stay hydrated, use air-conditioning or fans while indoors, wear loose-fitting clothes and walk in the shade while outdoors Employers must implement measures such as installing cooling equipment, and providing drinking water and rest breaks for outdoor workers starting from Monday next week, the Taipei Department of Labor said on Sunday. Employers who fail to comply could face fines of NT$30,000 to NT$300,000 under the Occupational Safety and Health Act (職業安全衛生法), the department said. Businesses in Taipei employing fewer than 100 workers, as well as registered self-employed workers with labor insurance coverage, could receive on-site assessments and guidance from occupational safety consultants to help them apply for central government subsidies to implement or improve heat-protection measures, it said. Under the Ministry of
ISOLATION: The outposts would serve as support and backup bases, forcing US forces to either face China head-on or reroute, increasing travel time and operational costs China’s outposts in the South China Sea could be used to delay and constrain foreign forces during a conflict in the Taiwan Strait, giving Beijing a critical window to carry out amphibious landing and blockade operations, a report said. The Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) forward operating bases on islands and reclaimed features in the South China Sea could delay foreign forces long enough for the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) to secure a key 48-to-72-hour window in the Taiwan Strait, a report commissioned by the Mainland Affairs Council found. The report, conducted by the Institute for National Defense and Security Research, examined
RSS