The Presidential Security Group (PSG) on Friday (June 25) said preparations are ongoing for the upcoming final State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Rodrigo Duterte at the Batasang Pambansa.
According to PSG commander Jesus Durante III, the security preparations are now in the second phase since they began planning last May. Ocular and site inspections have been conducted, as well as meetings with their counterparts in other agencies.
“We implemented some measures — hindi lahat makakadalo. Some will attend through, and there will be a minimal number of attendees doon po sa plenary, and everybody will be subjected to the health and safety protocols the PSG will implement,” Durante said.
“This will be the last SONA of the President, so we will ensure and assure the Filipino people that it will go smoothly and safely as with the past State of the Nation addresses of the President,” he added.
The security chief said there is a possibility of requiring fully vaccinated attendees amid the threat of COVID-19 and more contagious variants.
“Time will come, we will adjust to that na magre-require po tayo na lahat ng lalapit o dadalo sa mga events ni Pangulo ay fully vaccinated na. For now, we still adhere and still implement itong mga health and security protocols natin,” he said.
Durante said there is already a template for the event which is similar to last year’s first pandemic SONA, and that simulation exercises have yet to be conducted with all concerned agencies.
Meanwhile, the PSG celebrated its 123rd founding anniversary on June 24 with the theme “Building Resiliency, Sustaining Transformation, Towards a World-class AFP!”
Read more: PSG celebrates 123rd Founding Anniversary
“Ang inyong PSG po ay nananatiling tapat sa aming tungkulin upang ingatan ang kaligtasan ng ating Pangulo. So sa lahat ng oras iyan po ang ginagawa namin,” Durante said.
“Sinisiguro [namin] na ligtas ang Pangulo sa kapahamakan, lalong-lalo na dito sa pandemya, upang siya ay makapaglingkod sa sambayanang Pilipino hanggang sa huling araw ng kanyang termino,” he added. – Report from Mela Lesmoras/AG- jlo
