Presidential Security Group

Presidential Security Group
Coat of Arms of the PSG
Active March 6, 1897 - Present
Country Philippines Philippines
Branch None[Note 1]
Role VIP Security, Watchman Services, Presidential Protection Service, Defense
Size 1 Brigade/Regiment, 3 Battalions. Total is 4000+ soldiers, police, coast guard and civilian personnel
Part of Office of the President of the Philippines
Department of National Defense
Garrison/HQ Malacañang Park, Malacañang Palace, Manila
Nickname(s) PSG, The President's Guards, Presidential Guards, Filipino Secret Service, Men in Barong, PSG Troopers
Motto(s) Integrity, Service, Excellence
Mascot(s) Eagle
Anniversaries March 6
Decorations Presidential Streamer Award, Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation Badge
Commanders
Current
commander		 Col. Jose E. Niembra, PA
Notable
commanders
  • Maj Geronimo Gatmaitan PA
  • LtGen Jose Calimlim AFP
  • BGen Delfin Bangit AFP†
  • BGen Rodolfo Diaz AFP
  • Col Hermogenes Esperon Jr. (GSC) PA
  • BGen Glen Rabonza AFP
  • Col Voltaire T. Gazmin (GSC) PA
  • BGen Ramon Mateo Dizon (GSC) PA
  • BGen. Lope C. Dagoy, PA
Insignia
Unit Patch PSG Badge
A Presidential Security Group agent in a short-sleeve barong
An unmarked Toyota Fortuner with a lightbar siren mounted on top of the SUV.

The Presidential Security Group (PSG)[1] is the lead agency tasked with providing security to the President of the Philippines, the Vice President of the Philippines, and their immediate families.

The PSG is stationed at Malacañang Palace, the official residence of the President. Members of the PSG also accompany the President on both domestic and overseas trips.

History

While the present-day force was established in 1987, the protection of the President and the Presidential Family has been always the duty of the Armed Forces of the Philippines since 1897. A guard unit was raised at the time to protect the first official President, Emilio Aguinaldo, from attempts on his life, while another was formed for the defense of Andrés Bonifacio, the Supremo of the Katipunan revolutionary movement, as a result of the decisions of the Naic Conference. In 1898, a presidential cavalry squadron was raised for the protection of President Aguinaldo and his family, reinforced with a guards infantry company. Like today's PSG, they wore rayadillo uniforms, but with straw hats. Major Geronimo Gatmaitan was the unit commander.

In 1936, the 1st Cavalry Regiment of the 1st Infantry Division, Philippine Army, raised the same year, was tasked with defending President Manuel Quezon, his family, and the palace complex. They were joined by a guards company in 1938 to reinforce the President's security.

During the Second World War, units of the occupying Imperial Japanese Army initially took over guard duties at the palace, only to be replaced by an all-Filipino guard battalion at the insistence of President José P. Laurel. At war's end, it was in turn replaced by the AFP Presidential Guards Battalion under the orders of President Sergio Osmeña. The PSG of today traces its origins to 1950 when a presidential security unit was founded under the orders of President Elpidio Quirino as the secret service and protective unit of the state presidency, the First Family, and Malacañang Palace, under the control of the Philippine Constabulary (then the Secret Service of Malacañang Palace and later the Presidential Security Force and Presidential Security Agency and Presidential Security Command). When President Corazon Aquion was sworn in as president, she gave the order to disband the PSC and replace with the PSG.[2] The PSG, then as in the present, has always included both civilian agents and seconded servicemen from the Armed Forces.

The PSG launched the PSG Troopers website on February 10, 2017 as part of an effort to improve public relations.[3] Information concerning President Duterte's security arrangement are considered as classified.[3]

Four PSG officers were wounded in an encounter with New People's Army guerillas in Arakan, North Cotabato after they were spotted running a fake vehicle checkpoint.[4]

On September 26, 2017, a PSG officer was found dead inside the Malacañang complex with a gunshot wound to the chest.[5]

Role

The role of the PSG is to provide protective security to the following:[6]

  • The President and their immediate families.
  • Former Presidents and their immediate families.
  • Malacañang Palace (Seat of Government).
  • Visiting heads of states or diplomats and Cabinet Members and their families travelling with them.

The Presidential Security Group also have other functions, such as providing support to other government agencies. They assist the AFP and PNP in its anti-organized-crime undertakings, usually authorized by the Office of the President. They also conduct community service efforts in local communities, and maintain and secure all facilities and transportation assets used by the Offices of the President and Vice President in doing its regular and non-regular functions.

They are also mandated to provide close protection for ex-presidents for life.[7]

Organization

ORGANIC UNITS

  • Presidential Escorts
  • Presidential Guards
  • Headquarters & Headquarters Service Battalion
  • Security Battalion
  • Special Reaction Unit / K9 Unit
  • PSG Station Hospital
  • PSG Dental Dispensary
  • Presidential Intelligence Company
  • PSG Training School

OPERATIONALLY CONTROLLED UNITS

  • 11th Mechanized Infantry Company
  • Presidential Protection Unit
  • Manila Police District Field Force
  • Special Action Force
  • 250th Presidential Airlift Wing
  • Malacañang Fire Station
  • 93rd Marine Security Company
  • AT-25 BRP Ang Pangulo
  • CGS Pasig
  • 1st Provisional Company
  • Presidential Computer and Communication Battalion
  • 710th Special Operations Wing
  • 5th EOD Detachment, PA

Equipment

PSG members are known to carry assorted firearms, some known firearms include:

The PSG utilizes Motorola trunked two-way radios with encryption capability.[9]

References

  1. ↑ http://psg.mil.ph/ PSG Official Page
  2. ↑ http://newsbytes.ph/2017/02/08/to-reacquiant-with-the-public-presidential-security-group-unveils-website/
  3. 1 2 https://www.rappler.com/nation/161050-presidential-security-group-website
  4. ↑ http://psgtroopers.com/2017/2017/07/19/psg-encounters-npa-arakan-north-cotabato/
  5. 1 2 http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/933470/psg-presidential-security-group-officer-found-dead-after-shooting-incident-in-malacanang
  6. ↑ ""PSG" (Documentary by Sandra Aguinaldo)". GMA News. 2011-01-07. Retrieved 2011-07-16.
  7. ↑ http://www.bicolstandard.com/2016/05/feature-former-ph-presidents-given-8.html
  8. ↑ http://www.philstar.com/metro/2016/02/19/1554553/develop-philippine-arms-industry-group-urges
  9. ↑ "Philippine Daily Inquirer - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com. Retrieved 2016-07-01.
Notes
  1. ↑ PSG is a joint AFP-PNP-PCG-BFP service unit.
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