Palace taking security breach by woman with gun seriously

Malacañang Palace. FACEBOOK PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Malacañang is taking “seriously” the security threat posed by an armed woman who was able to breach the Palace grounds on Friday wanting to frighten President Benigno Aquino III into stepping down for failing to alleviate the extreme poverty in the country.

“We take any incident like this seriously, which is why the PSG (Presidential Security Group) immediately conducted their own investigation … there was a firearm involved. It is quite apparent there will be charges to that effect,” said deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte on Saturday on government station Radyo ng Bayan.

Valte expressed relief that no untoward incident happened after Flora Pineda, armed with a fully loaded automatic pistol, was able to enter the compound where the New Executive Building (NEB) is located.

“There was no threat to the President or to anyone who works at the New Executive Building, including us and the MPC (Malacañang Press Corps),” Valte said.

The PSG personnel manning the Arias Gate of the Malacañang complex immediately accosted Pineda.

President Aquino does not hold office in that part of the compound nor was he on the premises when Pineda arrived.

The NEB houses the Presidential Communications Operations Office, Presidential News Desk, Media Affairs and Relations Office, Presidential Chief Legal Counsel, Presidential Legislative Liaison Office and the Press Center.

Pineda, 36, a housekeeper from Taguig City, said she was not looking to hurt anyone with her gun but only wanted to scare President Aquino into leaving office for failing to address the widespread poverty in the country.

Pineda, who was brought to the Manila Police District for investigation, said she got the firearm from her brother who was a Marine.

“Someone asked me if [the incident] said something about the security [provided by] the PSG. I said, ‘Yes, it does because they’re doing their job. Maybe something else might have happened if they did not stop her or arrest her right away,” Valte said.

Asked if there would now be heightened security around the President, Valte said the PSG would continue guarding not only Mr. Aquino but also the area where he works.

The PSG, the elite force comprised of personnel from the Philippine Army, Navy and Air Force, provides close-in security to the President and guards the Malacañang complex beside the Pasig River in Manila.

The complex is also part of a community populated by schools, residences, churches and business establishments, among others.

Valte noted that because there were public areas in the Malacañang complex, the PSG had always been “extra careful” when people go in and out of the compound.

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