‘Palace takes all threats to Duterte seriously’

Malacañang takes “real or imagined” threats to President Duterte seriously because he has made many enemies in his stance against crime, corruption and illegal drugs, presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said on Thursday.

Panelo said it was the job of the Presidential Security Group (PSG) to provide Duterte with the highest level of security even if he did not care about the threats to his life.

“It is the duty of the PSG to provide the highest level of security protocols, which includes putting up a bulletproof glass panel, if it deems necessary at a given situation, to keep the man holding the most powerful position in the country safe,” Panelo said.

Praise for PSG

He praised the PSG for rising to the occasion.

“Whether the threats are real or imagined, we take them seriously and the Palace commends the PSG for doing a good job,” he said.

On Tuesday night, the PSG implemented stricter security arrangements for the President at a campaign rally of Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan at Barangay Potrero in Malabon City.

Duterte spoke behind a thick, bulletproof glass panel.

“Someone wants to kill me. But I think life is up to fate. If it’s my time to go, then there’s nothing I can do about it,” the President told the audience.

Brig. Gen. Jose Eriel Niembra, the PSG commander, explained the day after that they used the glass panel because the campaign sortie was held in an open area, right on a street.

Powerful enemies

Panelo said national leaders always faced threats, especially  Duterte “who has made enemies in all fronts when he declared a war against drugs, criminality, corruption and all forms of illegality.”

“It is public knowledge that the Chief Executive has made many powerful enemies for spearheading this reform agenda in the two and a half years of his presidency,” he said.

Panelo described the President as a man of the masses who liked to make himself accessible to the public “at every opportunity” and “could not care less about these threats.”

Security protocols

“The President is, however, bound by security protocols and, whether he likes it or not, these protocols are mandatorily attached to the position he holds,” he said.

While praising the PSG for a job well done, Panelo also thanked the public for understanding the importance of stricter security protection for Duterte.

“We also thank the overwhelming majority of Filipinos who understand the complexities involved in protecting the President’s welfare and show genuine concern for the security of the President,” he said.