The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) announced Saturday, June 25, that it has created a dedicated unit tasked to ensure the safety and security of Vice President-elect Sara Duterte and her family.
Gen. Andres Centino, AFP Chief of Staff, said that the Vice Presidential Security and Protection Group (VPSPG) will have the daughter of outgoing President Rodrigo Duterte as its first assignment after she was inaugurated as the 15th Vice President of the Philippines last June 19 in Davao City.
“The AFP saw it fitting to provide the Office of the Vice President a dedicated unit that shall ensure the safety and security of the second-highest elected official in the country,” Centino said.
The AFP chief led the activation of the VPSPG in a ceremony at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City on Friday, June 24.
The VPSPG is formerly a security detachment tasked to protect the vice president of the country, and was only an attached unit to the Presidential Security Group (PSG).
With its activation, the VPSPG is now a separate unit from PSG and will be headed by an O-6 grade officer or those with a rank of Colonel or Navy Captain.
The VPSPG will be led by Lt. Col. Rene Giroy as its first group commander.
“I am confident that the newly-designated acting VPSPG Commander and the rest of the Officers and Enlisted Personnel entrusted to ensure the safety, security, and welfare of the Vice President and her family shall perform their responsibilities to the best of their abilities,” Centino stated.