DAVAO CITY – Navy frogmen and snipers from the Presidential Security Group (PSG) complemented the special forces guarding President Arroyo as she spent the night at the newly refurbished ‘Malacañang in Davao City’ here.
Security had been tightened as the President tried to spend the night and use the new presidential headquarters that is located at the Department of Public Works and Highways depot in Barangay Panacan here.
Unlike Malacañang Palace in Manila, the presidential headquarters is located along the shores of Davao Gulf, right across the Island Garden City of Samal, five minutes by ferry from the mainland.
Davao City’s Malacañang underwent a P24 million refurbishing with P7 million additional expenses for other fixtures.
Sources said frogmen took turns patrolling underwater while snipers positioned themselves in strategic locations surrounding the compound.
“There is nothing that would obstruct the view of the façade of the building that goes directly to the sea, that is why security has to be doubled,” an official said.
Security officials, however, had their hands full in preventing fishermen into straying in the calm waters fronting the presidential headquarters.
Shipping vessels were also advised to take the other route, going around Samal Island, instead of going straight to the Sasa Wharf passing by the DPWH depot.
A building housing the PSG personnel was also constructed within the same compound as the main presidential quarters used to be the living quarters of visiting DPWH engineers.
Mrs. Arroyo, for her part, tried out the new presidential palace and ordered a full course dinner for visiting local officials.
The President reportedly agreed to use the DPWH quarters after she was shown a photo of the building in February.
The management of the building was immediately turned over to the Office of the President and the PSG.