Presidential Security Command

While the present-day force was established in 1987, the protection of the president and the presidential family has always been the duty of the Armed Forces of the Philippines since 1897.

On June 23, 1898, a guards unit called as the Cuerpo de la Guardia Presidencial (Presidential Guard Corps) was raised at the time to protect the first official president, Emilio Aguinaldo, from attempts on his life. Composed of a presidential cavalry squadron and artillery batteries, reinforced with multiple guards infantry battalions all under the command of Major Geronimo Gatmaitan, which provided the protection of President Aguinaldo and his family.{{cite web|url=https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/philippines/psg-history.htm|title=Presidential Security Group - History|date=n.d.|access-date=July 12, 2023|website=globalsecurity.org}} Like today's PSC, they wore rayadillo uniforms, but with straw hats.

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. On May 22, 1938, they were joined by the Malacanang Guards, made up of a company organized into two to three platoons with a little over a hundred members, to reinforce the President's security.

During the Second World War, the Presidential Guards were combined with the Philippine Constabulary and Manila ROTC units to form the new Second Regular Division which fought in Bataan. After the inauguration of the Second Philippine Republic, 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. During the Battle of Manila in 1945, Presidential Guardsmen remained at their posts in Malacañang. At war's end, it was in turn replaced by the AFP Presidential Guards Battalion under the orders of President Sergio Osmeña and would remain until the time of his successor, Manuel Roxas.

The PSG of today traces its origins to 1950 when President Elpidio Quirino transferred the Presidential Guards Battalion under the control of the Philippine Constabulary (PC) in 1950.{{Cite web |url=https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1950/08/03/administrative-order-no-128-s-1950/|title=Administrative Order No. 128, s. 1950|newspaper=Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines }} At the same time, a separate presidential security unit was founded as the secret service and protective unit of the state presidency, the First Family, and Malacañang Palace, under the control of the Constabulary (first the Secret Service of Malacañang Palace then later renamed into the Presidential Security Force, the Presidential Security Unit, and then the Presidential Security Agency). On October 22, 1971, under the Presidency of Ferdinand Marcos, General Order No. 212 GHQ, AFP was issued, creating the Presidential Security Command (PSC) as a unified command of the AFP.{{cite web|url=https://www.dbm.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/OPCCB/OPIF2011/DND/GHQ.pdf|title=DND RLIP (TIS) - DBM Organization, Position Classification and Compensation Bureau|date=2011|access-date=July 22, 2024|website=dbm.gov.ph/}}

File:Presidential Security Group (PSG).svg

When President Corazon Aquino was sworn in as president, she gave the order to disband the PSC and replace with "a leaner" Presidential Security Group (PSG), with then-Army Colonel (and future Secretary of National Defense) Voltaire Gazmin as its chief.{{Cite web |url=https://pco.gov.ph/news_releases/president-aquino-leads-presidential-security-groups-29th-anniversary-celebration/ |title=President Aquino leads Presidential Security Group's 29th anniversary celebration |date=March 10, 2015 }} This was formalized by General Order No. 60, GHQ-New Armed Forces of the Philippines (NAFP), which deactivated the PSC and activated the PSG as one of the support units of the NAFP. The PSG, then as in the present, has always included both civilian agents and seconded servicemen from the Armed Forces.

The PSG launched the PSG Troopers website on February 10, 2017, as part of an effort to improve public relations.{{cite web|url=http://www.rappler.com/nation/161050-presidential-security-group-website|title=Presidential Security Group launches website|first=Pia|last=Ranada|website=Rappler|date=February 10, 2017 }} Information concerning the president's security arrangements are considered as classified.

Four PSG officers were wounded in an encounter with New People's Army guerillas in Arakan, North Cotabato after they were spotted running a fake vehicle checkpoint.{{cite web|url=http://psgtroopers.com/2017/2017/07/19/psg-encounters-npa-arakan-north-cotabato/|title=PSG encounters NPA at Arakan North Cotabato|work=PSG Troopers |date=July 19, 2017}}

On September 26, 2017, a PSG officer was found dead inside the Malacañang complex with a gunshot wound to the chest.{{cite web|url=https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/933470/psg-presidential-security-group-officer-found-dead-after-shooting-incident-in-malacanang|title=PSG officer found dead in Malacañang complex|first=Nestor|last=Corrales|website=Philippine Daily Inquirer|date=September 26, 2017 }}

In January 2024, the Department of National Defense officially disclosed that the Presidential Security Group (PSG) was expanded from a group to a command, now officially known again as the Presidential Security Command (PSC), restoring the setup of the organization during the time of President Ferdinand Marcos, late father and namesake of the current President, Bongbong Marcos.{{cite web|url=https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2024/01/23/2327802/presidents-security-upgraded-group-command|title=President's security upgraded from group to command |first=Alexis|last=Romero|website=GMA News|date=January 23, 2024 }} The term PSC was earlier utilized on January 19 when the agency's Commander, MGen. Nelson Morales, issued a statement reacting to criticisms on Marcos’ use of the presidential helicopter to travel to the Philippine Arena in Bulacan to watch the Coldplay concert.{{cite web|url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/894845/psg-marcos-rode-presidential-chopper-to-coldplay-concert-for-his-safety/story/|title=PSG: Marcos rode presidential chopper to Coldplay concert for his safety |first=Jiselle|last=Casucian|website=GMA News|date=January 20, 2024 }}

In July 2024, the Vice Presidential Security and Protection Group (VPSPG), a separate unit activated in 2022 that was responsible for the security of Vice President Sara Duterte, was revealed to have been integrated into the reorganized Command after the elevation of the 75 personnel of the Police Security and Protection Group (PSPG) assigned to the VPSPG were transferred to the National Capital Region Police Office.{{Cite web |last=Regalado |first=Edith |title=Sara stripped of 75 security personnel |url=https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2024/07/24/2372553/sara-stripped-75-security-personnel |access-date=2024-07-26 |website=Philstar.com}}

The role of the PSC is tasked with:{{cite web|url=http://www.gmanews.tv/story/210005/publicaffairs/psgquot-documentary-by-sandra-aguinaldo|title="PSG" (Documentary by Sandra Aguinaldo)|date=January 7, 2011|access-date=July 16, 2011|publisher=GMA News}}

• Providing security to:
• The president and their immediate family.
• The president-elect and their immediate family.
• Visiting heads of states or diplomats and Cabinet members and their families travelling with them and other guests.
• Visitors of the Presidential Museum and Library.
• Providing escort security for them at all times.
• Securing the president residences, offices, and places of engagements.
• Surveillance and monitoring activities.
• Performing state protocol duties including honor guard duties.
• Public Order, Public Safety, & Crowd Control.

The Presidential Security Command also have other functions, such as providing support to other government agencies. They assist the AFP and PNP in its anti-organized-crime and corruption undertakings as well as maintaining public order and safety, 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 offices of the president and vice president in doing its regular and non-regular functions.{{cite news|url=http://www.bicolstandard.com/2016/05/feature-former-ph-presidents-given-8.html|title=FEATURE | Former PH presidents given 8 security personnel|newspaper=Bicol Standard | Bicol News | Bicol Newspaper }} The role of securing the Vice President and it’s immediate family is under the Vice Presidential Security and Protection Group (VPSPG).

The following are organized under the PSC (formerly the PSG) as of 2023:{{cite web|url=https://www.coa.gov.ph/phocadownloadpap/userupload/annual_audit_report/NGAs/2010/National-Government-Sector/Department-of-National-Defense/PSG_ES2010.pdf |title=NGA |publisher=www.coa.gov.ph |date=2010 |access-date=November 4, 2019}}{{cite web|url=http://psgtroopers.com/2017/2018/07/05/121-years-selfless-service-dedication-duty/|title=121 Years of Selfless Service and Dedication to Duty|work=PSG Troopers |date=July 5, 2018}}

1. Commander
2. Chief of Staff
3. Special Reaction Unit Commander
4. Commanding Officers
5. * Headquarters and Headquarters Service Battalion
6. * Security Battalion
7. * Presidential Escorts Battalion
8. * Presidential Guards Battalion

File:PSG agent in barong tagalog.JPG

• Headquarters & Headquarters Service Battalion
• Presidential Escorts - the actual personnel accompanying the President and his/her immediate family
• Guard Battalion
• Security Battalion
• Special Reaction Unit
• K9 Unit
• PSG Station Hospital
• PSG Dental Dispensary
• Presidential Intelligence Company
• PSG Training School
• PSG Band
• Philippine National Police-Police Security and Protection Group (PNP-PSPG) Presidential Protection Division

Agents are usually personnel from the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police and Philippine Coast Guard. However, there are a few civilian personnel acting as support units.

Military and police personnel serving in the PSC retain the ranks and insignia of their parent service which are worn in almost all orders of dress.

{{more citations needed section|date=August 2019}}

PSC members are known to carry assorted firearms, some known firearms include:

{{gallery

|File:GLOCK_17_Gen_4_Pistol_MOD_45160305.jpg|Glock pistols{{cite web|url=https://www.philstar.com/metro/2016/02/18/1554553/develop-philippine-arms-industry-group-urges|title=Develop Philippine arms industry, group urges|website=philstar.com}}

|File:M1911A1.png|M1911 pistol

|File:First-year_H&K_USP_9mm_(32415150000)_modified.png|Heckler & Koch USP

|File:Heckler_&_Koch_MP5-1.jpg|Heckler & Koch MP5

|File:Gewehr_G36_noBG.jpg|Heckler & Koch G36

|File:M4A1 ACOG.png|[[M16 rifle|Colt/Elisco

M4A1 5.56mm Assault Rifle]]

|File:Remington_R4_Rifle.JPG|Remington R4 5.56mm Carbine

|File:FN_MAG_white_background.jpg|FN MAG

|File:Armbrust_rocket_launcher_photo_Iraq_OIG.jpg|Armbrust

|File:54RA-IMG_9142.jpg|Mistral (missile)

}}

The PSC utilizes Motorola trunked two-way radios with encryption capability.{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2479&dat=20030908&id=C7ljAAAAIBAJ&sjid=eyUMAAAAIBAJ&pg=1954,35348788&hl=en|title=Philippine Daily Inquirer - Google News Archive Search|website=news.google.com|access-date=July 1, 2016}}

The PSC currently uses a fleet of vehicles, ranging from motorcycles; armored modified sedans and mid-sized vehicles; and armored personnel carriers.

{{gallery

|File:Honda Gold Wing GL1800 - Indonesia International Motor Show 2018 - April 26 2018.jpg|Honda Gold Wing

|File:2018 Audi A6 Sport 40 TDi S-A 2.0.jpg|Audi A6

|File:BMW 730d xDrive (F01) – Frontansicht, 31. Dezember 2012, Düsseldorf.jpg|BMW 7 Series

|File:2011 Hyundai Equus -- 02-24-2011.jpg|Hyundai Equus

|File:Toyota Camry (XV50) (front), Jakarta.jpg|Toyota Camry

|File:Nissan Patrol GR Ejército español.jpg|Nissan Patrol

|File:Irún, Guipúzcoa - Spain (5012920974).jpg|Toyota FJ Cruiser

|File:2011 Toyota Land Cruiser (UZJ200R) Sahara wagon (2011-11-18) 01.jpg|Toyota Land Cruiser

|File:PSG Fortuner SUV side view.JPG|An unmarked Toyota Fortuner with a lightbar siren mounted on top of the SUV

|File:Mitsubishi Montero Sport 2019.jpg|Mitsubishi Montero Sport

|File:2008-2010 Hyundai iMax (TQ-W) van 01.jpg|Hyundai Starex

|File:2015 Chevrolet Suburban LT in black, front left side view.jpg|Chevrolet Suburban

|File:2008 Ford E-250 (Econoline) Cargo Van 4.6L front 1.23.19.jpg|Ford E-250

|File:Phl Army M113.JPG|Philippine Army M113 armored personnel carrier

|File:M113 AIFV.jpg| Philippine Army AIFV

|File:Philippine Army V-150 Commando Vehicle 06.JPG| Philippine Army Cadillac Gage Commando

}}

{{reflist|group=Note|refs=

PSC is a joint AFP-PNP-PCG-BFP service unit.

}}

{{reflist}}

• [http://psgtroopers.com/2017/ Official Site]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20160718075731/http://www.psg.mil.ph/index.php Old site of the Presidential Security Group] (Archive)

{{commons category|Presidential Security Group}}

{{Department of National Defense of the Philippines}}

{{Military of the Philippines}}

Category:Department of National Defense (Philippines)

Category:Government agencies under the Office of the President of the Philippines

Category:Protective security units

Category:Malacañang Palace

Category:Guards of honour

Category:Government agencies established in 1897