PSG readying 360-degree security for Duterte at SONA

MANILA, Philippines — President Duterte will get a “360-degree” security shield when he delivers his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) at the House of Representatives’ Batasan Complex in Quezon City on Monday, Presidential Security Group (PSG) chief Col. Jesus Durante III said yesterday.

Durante said the President would be fully protected from any untoward incident and exposure to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

“The Presidential Security Group, together with the Office of the President-Event Management Cluster (OP-EMC), is preparing a heightened level of security measures from previous SONAs while working closely with other government agencies involved in securing the President,” Durante said in a statement.

He said the PSG would enforce additional health security measures it adopted from the implementing guidelines of the PSG’s Task Force COVID-19, Department of Health and Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases.

“Inter-agency meetings with all involved security agencies have been conducted and continuous collaborations are in place,” Durante said.

He said all security preparations are geared toward a peaceful, successful as well as COVID-free SONA 2020 of the President.”

Attendees would be limited to members of the Cabinet and lawmakers, presidential spokesman Harry Roque Jr said.

“There will be a limited number of Cabinet members who can attend, about 15, and there are about 25 coming from the House of Representatives and all members of the Senate,” Roque said.

Meanwhile, the  pre-SONA forum titled Tatak ng Pagbabago 2020 will conclude today with speakers from the Climate Change Adaptation, Mitigation and Disaster Risk Reduction cluster as well as the Security, Justice and Peace cluster, who will discuss the administration’s programs related to the protection of the environment and national security and public order, respectively.

Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu and Defense chief Delfin Lorenzana will lead the presentation of government programs related to the environment, strengthening community resilience, maintenance of peace and order and dispensing justice in the country.