Country Philippines | Branch None | |
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Active March 6, 1897 - Present Role VIP Security, Watchman Services, Presidential Protection Service Size 1 Brigade/Regiment, 3 Battalions. Total is 4000+ soldiers, police, coast guard and civilian personnel Part of Under the Office of the President | ||
The Presidential Security Group (PSG) is the lead agency tasked with providing security to the President of the Philippines, the Vice President of the Philippines, and their immediate families.
Contents
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.
Role
The role of the PSG is to provide protective security to the following:
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 Office of the President and Vice President in doing its regular and non-regular functions.
Organization
ORGANIC UNITS
OPERATIONALLY CONTROLLED UNITS
Equipment
PSG members are known to carry assorted firearms, some known firearms include:
The PSG utilizes Motorola trunked two-way radios with encryption capability.