SCREENSHOT FROM SARA DUTERTE’S YOUTUBE CHANNEL
DAVAO CITY — Vice President-elect Sara Duterte lauded the Office of the National Defense (OND) and the security forces for heeding her request to activate the Vice Presidential Security and Protection Group (VPSPG).
The unit, which will secure the country’s second highest official and her family, will be separate from the Presidential Security Group (PSG), which secures the President and the first family. The DND has reportedly approved its activation.
“Allow me to extend my gratitude to the Department of National Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and the entire DND organization and Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff Gen. Andres Centino and the whole of AFP for the positive response and action to the request that a security unit, separate from the Presidential Security Group (PSG), be created and assigned to the office of the vice president,” Duterte said in a statement to the media hours after the AFP announced the activation.
“The activation is commendable as it will resolve the matter of continuity in security for all vice presidents of the Philippines,” Duterte added.
She said the AFP’s move highlighted the importance of “having an independent group” that would provide the country’s vice presidents with the necessary security and protection.
“That foresight demonstrated in this activation was likewise highly laudable–that it may be expected to solve the challenges if, in future elections, the vice president and the president face the misfortune of having strained relations. Thank you very much,” she said.
The statement of the Vice President-elect came hours after AFP Chief General Andres Centino was reported to have led the activation of the VPSPG in a ceremony at the AFP general headquarters on Friday, where he installed Lt. Col. Rene Giroy as its first commander.