After almost two years of battling the still existing CoVID-19 pandemic, the world adapted to the new normal situation, strictly implementing health and safety protocols around the globe. Little by little, the busy cities and towns which were once in a lockdown status have returned to a bustling hut. Businesses and establishments were also going back to its normal operation. The post-pandemic era has started to emerge, and countries are moving on with the serious dogmatic changes brought about by the pandemic.
The Philippines is also one of those affected countries slowly recovering from the after-effect of the pandemic. But with the united efforts of the Philippine government through its various agencies, the country resiliently fought the unseen enemy.
Even before the pandemic, the Philippine National Police has been doing its best in safeguarding and in maintaining peace and order within the community. Nevertheless, the organization also strengthens its role in securing Very Important Persons (VIPs) as needed through the Police Security and Protection Group.
PSPG never faltered in ensuring the safety and protection to every VIP and dignitary, who, in one way or another needs security coverage in performing their respective duties within the country. The Unit constantly provides security to government vital installations and legally authorized private individuals.
On June 30, 2022, said unit deployed its Task Group during the Inauguration and Oath-Taking Ceremony of President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos, Jr. at the National Museum of the Philippines in Manila City. A total of 322 personnel composed of nine members of the Command Group, 30 members of the Secretariat, five MACC personnel, 12 Red Team personnel, 19 Security Officers (SO), 19 Close-in Security, 118 Onboard Security (OBS), 20 STG Venue Security, 30 STG Support, and the 60 STG Convoy Security from the Highway Patrol Group were deployed together with other members of the Joint Task Group who will provide security for the 16 Special Envoys/Foreign Ministers, and at least 1,400 invited delegates, Diplomats and other VIPs.
Likewise, the unit also created a Security Task Force during the opening of the 1st Regular Session of the 19th Congress and the President’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 25, 2022: a total of 654 personnel, comprising the Command Group and Support Staff, and from the Presidential Protection Division (PPD), Vital Installations Protection Division (VIPD), Protection and Escort Division (PED), and the Diplomatic Protection Division (DPD). They were accompanied with the augmented personnel from the Special Action Force (SAF), Quezon City Police District (QCPD), Manila Police District (MPD), Eastern Police District (EPD), Northern Police District (NPD), Southern Police District (SPD) and Traffic Enforcers from the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA).
PSPG also took part in the security coverage during the Association of Southeast Asian Nation (ASEAN) Football Federation (AFF) Women’s Championship from July 1 to 18, 2022 which was held in three separate venues: Biñan Football Stadium, PFF National Training Center and Rizal Memorial Stadium. The Group continued to provide security assistance in all of the significant events in the country, both national and international. From June 7, 2022 until July 3, 2022, PSPG deployed 65 personnel to assist the Federation Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB), Volleyball Nations League (VNL) held in the country. It was composed of three members of the Command Group, 16 Secretariat/Action Officers/ Support Staff, four Close-in Security (CIS), 32 Onboard Security (OBS), six Red Team, and four standby/support personnel. They were staged at the PSPG Headquarters.
Police Brigadier General Juel Neil O. Salcedo, PSPG Director, made it a point that PSPG will and always maintain the highest form of public service towards its respective clientele, performing its mandate religiously, and maintaining trustworthy police personnel bent in safeguarding those in need, and in securing and protecting everybody’s welfare.
