All Presidential Security Group (PSG) personnel have been placed on “lockdown” from March 28 to April 10 as a precaution against the coronavirus.
PSG commander Col. Jesus Durante III has directed the PSG personnel and their dependents staying at the PSG compound and Malacañang Complex to go on self-quarantine during this period.
The latest PSG order was issued after a lawmaker who attended a recent meeting in Malacañang has recently confirmed he tested positive for the coronavirus.
“The lockdown applies only to all PSG personnel. I require all PSG personnel to go on self quarantine effective 28 March. No PSG personnel to go out of Malacañang complex until 10 April,” Durante said in a message sent to Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo.
The PSG personnel and dependents have been advised to “just stay in their respective quarters for the duration of the lockdown,” an official statement from the PSG read.
“The Presidential Security Group has the sole and unique mandate of protecting the President of the Republic. By ensuring the good health condition of the PSG troopers means deploying competent and able personnel who are not themselves threat to the health of the President,” the statement posted on Facebook read.
Durante made clear that the skeletal workforce Office of the President will still be allowed to enter the Palace complex subject to “regular screening procedures.”
“All offices situated in Malacañang Complex, most especially in Malacañan Palace, shall continue to MAINTAIN THEIR SKELETAL WORKFORCE. Essential civilian employees shall still be allowed to enter the Palace area subject to regular screening procedures,” the statement read.
The latest security measures aimed at ensuring the health and safety of the President as well as the PSG personnel and Palace officials.
“All these stringent security measures that will be implemented by PSG intend not only to ensure the safety of its personnel and Malacañang employees, but ultimately, to safeguard the health of the President amid the existing health crisis brought about by COVID-19,” the PSG said.
MEDIA NO LONG ALLOWED
Journalists are no longer allowed to go inside the Malacañang press briefing room until the end of the lockdown in Luzon based on a new Palace advisory.
Only resource speakers and government media workers will be allowed access to the press briefing room as the Palace shifted to holding virtual press conferences as a precaution against the spread of the new coronavirus disease.
The latest “public address protocol” during the quarantine period was issued by Presidential Communications Operations Office Undersecretary for Broadcasting and Mass Media Raquel Tobias.
“To help prevent he spread of COVID-19, we encourage everyone to abide by the following protocol during a public address: Effective 27 March 2018, only the following persons shall be allowed inside the press briefing room of the New Executive Building, Malacañang Palace during a public address: a) resource speaker/s; b) RTVM cameraman; (c) one moderator from the Office of Global Media and Public Affairs,” the media advisory read.
“Members of the press shall no longer be allowed indie the press briefing room until the end of the Enhanced Community Quarantine,” it added.
According to Tobias, the media may participate during the public address through the virtual press conference instead. Journalists may submit questions in advance either to the moderator or the resource speaker.
The latest changes in the Palace press briefings have been issued following the rising cases of coronavirus infections in the country.
The PCOO has issued identification cards to journalists covering the coronavirus emergency so they can operate within the quarantine zone in Luzon. The month-long enhanced community quarantine is in effect until April 12. (Genalyn Kabiling)
