PSG assures public of Duterte's safety
Published Dec 18, 2019 12:00 am
By Argyll Geducos
The Presidential Security Group (PSG) vowed to keep President Duterte safe and secured after National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon bared that the Chief Executive was included in a hit list seized of Communist rebels.
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte (KARL NORMAN ALONZO/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
PSG commander BGen. Jose Eriel Niembra made the statement after Esperon said there had been information that the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) have a hit list which included him and the President.
In an interview in Malacañang, Niembra said it was not surprising that Duterte would be at the top of the hit list, but assured the public that they will not let anything happen to the President.
"Meron kaming natanggap na information na ganyan, actually matagal na (We have received information long ago), that the President is among the priority targets of... not only of the NPA but also of the drug lords, the syndicate groups," he said.
"We'll do everything we can to secure the President. And in fact, ang sabi nga natin, ang mission ng (like we said, the mission of the) PSG is to see to it that we have a living president day by day," he added.
Reports of the rebels' hit list came days before the 50th founding anniversary of the Reds on December 26. Niembra said that they were doing everything to keep the President safe, but refused to divulge other information.
"We expect that the President is number one in their list. So as to the preparations and heightening of our security procedures, amin na lang yun (we can't tell you that). But rest assured, we're doing something to protect the President," he said.
Not a joke
Despite the report being old news, Niembra said that they were taking the President's supposed inclusion in a hit list seriously.
"We take it seriously kasi (because) it's not a joking matter. It's the life of the President and the survival of the country," he said.
However, Niembra said the President had a different way of dealing with threats to his life, saying Duterte was not following their recommendations for his safety.
"Hindi pa rin (He's not taking our advice). The President knows how to handle himself so alam niya naman kung saan lang yung kumbaga boundary ng pwede niyang gawin. Minsan medyo sumusobra, minsan naman sumusunod (he knows where to draw the line. Sometimes he just goes over this line). It's on the matter of advising him, actually, which is critical," he said.
Motor is life
Niembra said there was no stopping the President from riding a motorcycle despite threats to his life.
"Ang sabi nga niya (He said), he will live and die with a motorcycle kasi sabi niya mas mabuti pang nakamatay siyang naka-motor kaysa mamatay siyang nakahiga. Ganoon ka-pursigido po ang ating Presidente (because for him, it's better to die on a motorcycle that die while laying down. That's how determined he is)," he said.
"In fact, meron na naman siyang planong mag-motor. But maybe not now. Ito ang passion niya kasi. Ito ang hilig niya (He has a plan to ride his motorcycle. Maybe not now. But this is his passion, this is his hobby)," he added.
Niembra said that the President was playing with the idea of riding a motorcycle around Metro Manila but said he was against it.
"He has plan to go around Metro Manila on a motorcycle... I don't agree actually," he said.
"Kung sa loob lang po ng PSG, pwede (If he's just inside the PSG compound then we will allow him). But if he goes out, I think we should advise him na pwede naman (that can ride his motorcycle) but in a secure, controlled area," he added.
President Duterte repeatedly said that he will never stop riding a motorcycle despite him figuring in accidents while riding them. He said he was in an accident when he was 69 years old, causing pain in his right here. In October this year, he figured in another accident which caused him to cut short his trip to Japan for the enthronement ceremony of new Emperor Akihito
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte (KARL NORMAN ALONZO/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
PSG commander BGen. Jose Eriel Niembra made the statement after Esperon said there had been information that the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) have a hit list which included him and the President.
In an interview in Malacañang, Niembra said it was not surprising that Duterte would be at the top of the hit list, but assured the public that they will not let anything happen to the President.
"Meron kaming natanggap na information na ganyan, actually matagal na (We have received information long ago), that the President is among the priority targets of... not only of the NPA but also of the drug lords, the syndicate groups," he said.
"We'll do everything we can to secure the President. And in fact, ang sabi nga natin, ang mission ng (like we said, the mission of the) PSG is to see to it that we have a living president day by day," he added.
Reports of the rebels' hit list came days before the 50th founding anniversary of the Reds on December 26. Niembra said that they were doing everything to keep the President safe, but refused to divulge other information.
"We expect that the President is number one in their list. So as to the preparations and heightening of our security procedures, amin na lang yun (we can't tell you that). But rest assured, we're doing something to protect the President," he said.
Not a joke
Despite the report being old news, Niembra said that they were taking the President's supposed inclusion in a hit list seriously.
"We take it seriously kasi (because) it's not a joking matter. It's the life of the President and the survival of the country," he said.
However, Niembra said the President had a different way of dealing with threats to his life, saying Duterte was not following their recommendations for his safety.
"Hindi pa rin (He's not taking our advice). The President knows how to handle himself so alam niya naman kung saan lang yung kumbaga boundary ng pwede niyang gawin. Minsan medyo sumusobra, minsan naman sumusunod (he knows where to draw the line. Sometimes he just goes over this line). It's on the matter of advising him, actually, which is critical," he said.
Motor is life
Niembra said there was no stopping the President from riding a motorcycle despite threats to his life.
"Ang sabi nga niya (He said), he will live and die with a motorcycle kasi sabi niya mas mabuti pang nakamatay siyang naka-motor kaysa mamatay siyang nakahiga. Ganoon ka-pursigido po ang ating Presidente (because for him, it's better to die on a motorcycle that die while laying down. That's how determined he is)," he said.
"In fact, meron na naman siyang planong mag-motor. But maybe not now. Ito ang passion niya kasi. Ito ang hilig niya (He has a plan to ride his motorcycle. Maybe not now. But this is his passion, this is his hobby)," he added.
Niembra said that the President was playing with the idea of riding a motorcycle around Metro Manila but said he was against it.
"He has plan to go around Metro Manila on a motorcycle... I don't agree actually," he said.
"Kung sa loob lang po ng PSG, pwede (If he's just inside the PSG compound then we will allow him). But if he goes out, I think we should advise him na pwede naman (that can ride his motorcycle) but in a secure, controlled area," he added.
President Duterte repeatedly said that he will never stop riding a motorcycle despite him figuring in accidents while riding them. He said he was in an accident when he was 69 years old, causing pain in his right here. In October this year, he figured in another accident which caused him to cut short his trip to Japan for the enthronement ceremony of new Emperor Akihito