Aquino keeps public guessing on choice of new PSG chief

President Benigno Aquino III. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—President Aquino is keeping the public guessing on the identity of the successor to Brig. Gen. Ramon Mateo U. Dizon, outgoing Presidential Security Group (PSG) commander, who will reach his mandatory retirement age of 56 on Aug. 31.

“I haven’t told the SND (secretary of national defense) of my choice,” the President said in an ambush interview on Thursday in Imus, Cavite, when asked if he had already chosen Dizon’s replacement.

None of the President’s men—Secretaries Edwin Lacierda, Mar Roxas and Florencio Abad—dared to second-guess him on his choice for the sensitive position.

“Don’t know whom yet,” said Lacierda in a text message.

Roxas said in a phone interview that the President was “looking at two candidates.”

“I don’t recall the names. He just mentioned that he’s still looking [at their credentials] and will still talk to them,” said Roxas.

Abad, in a separate text message, said he had no idea. “Well, that’s his PSG, so likely he is the only one who may know [the next PSG chief],” he said.

Dizon was thrust into the spotlight by no less than the President during his fourth State of the Nation Address (Sona) on July 22.

Aquino described his foremost security blanket as “loyal to your flag, Constitution and the Filipino people.”

Dizon was at Batasan as PSG chief, a special unit tasked with only one mission: Ensure the safety of the President and his family.

While guarding the steps leading to the podium, where the President was delivering his speech, it did not cross his mind that he would form part of the Sona.

“This is your Sona,” declared the President, reminding the nation that it was the people—whom he referred to as his bosses—who made change possible.

The President then turned to him, praising him to high heavens.

“For Gen. Ramon Mateo Dizon, soon-to-retire head of the PSG, who stood alongside me even in facing coups d’etat during my mother’s term: Up until my presidency, you have protected me,” Aquino said.

The awkward moment seemed like eternity for Dizon, who spent most of his career behind the scenes.

“Thank you, Mr. President, for appreciating my work,” he said, reacting to the President’s speech.