Colonel Ramon Zagala, the current spokesperson of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), will soon head the next commander of the Presidential Security Group (PSG) that will be tasked to ensure the safety and security of President-elect Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his family.
A source who requested anonymity said that Zagala expressed gratitude for the appointment.
“It was his colleagues at the PAO who confirmed it. I congratulated him and he said ‘thank you,’” the source said.
The AFP public affairs office (PAO) said it has yet to receive the official appointment papers of Zagala as PSG commander, and added he remains the AFP spokesperson.
In a separate interview with Zagala, he refused to comment on the matter pending an official report from Malacanang.
The PSG is the primary agency concerned with providing close-in security and escort to the Philippine president and vice president, their immediate families, former presidents and vice presidents, as well as visiting heads of state.
The development came as the AFP announced the creation of the Vice Presidential Security and Protection Group (VPSPG) for Vice President-elect Sara Duterte-Carpio earlier in the day.
Zagala is a graduate of the AFP Training Center Officer Candidate School “Balikatan Class of 12” in 1994.
He was a member of the AFP Special Forces and Airborne, and finished Public Affairs Qualification Course in Maryland, United States. He also holds a dgree in AB Political Science at the De La Salle University and a Master’s degree in Military and Defense Studies in Australia.
Prior to being the AFP’s mouthpiece, Zagala also served as the commanding officer of the 28th Infantry “Kamagong” Battalion, and assistant chief of staff for civil military operations of the 10th Infantry Division all in Davao region; chief of the AFP PAO in 2013, and chief of the Philippine Army PAO in 2019.