Presidential Security Group - Role and Function

Role and Function

The role of the PSG is to provide protective security to the following:

• The President and Vice President of the Philippines.
• Their immediate families.
• Former presidents and their immediate families.
• Former vice presidents and their immediate families.
• Malacañang Palace.
• Cabinet members and Malacañang officials
• Visiting heads of states or diplomats and their families travelling with them.

The Presidential Security Group also have other functions. The PSG provides support to other government agencies. They assist the AFP and PNP in its anti-organized-crime undertakings. This is usually authorized by the Office of the President. They also conduct Community Service efforts to local communities and maintain and secure all facilities and transportation assets used by the Office of the President and Vice President in doing its regular and non-regular functions.

Most PSG recruits come from the different branches of the AFP, but some operators have come from other units of the Philippine National Police like PNP SWAT and Special Action Force. Some PSG recruits today also come from the Philippine Coast Guard.

Due to the importance of the PSG's protective function, the personnel of the agency receive the latest weapons, equipment and training program. PSG are trained abroad by different counter-terrorism units such as the US FBI HRT, SAS, US Delta Force and Israel's Mossad. They have also cross-trained with other local special units, such as the PNP SAF and Army Special Forces Regiment.

During the term of then President Marcos, the Presidential Security Command, the precursor of the PSG, started their day with various physical exercises. They held daily runs and the troops sharpened their skills in unarmed/ hand to hand combat. They also held drills and practiced parades at least once a week to hone their discipline and skill as honor guards. They conducted special training for handling firearms, civil-disturbance control, urban guerrilla warfare, jungle warfare, mountain operations, small unit operations, air mobility, amphibious operations and airborne courses.

Those who complete the special training, the members advance to Counterterrorist Action, Combat Assault, Defensive Driving, Basic and Advanced Practical Pistol Shooting, Security Advance Party Procedures, Urban Combat, Special Weapons Training, Special Reaction Training, tae kwon do, Mechanized Infantry Tactics and Crisis Management.

Guardsmen train regularly in such specialized courses as Hostage Negotiation, Anti-terrorist Operation, Advanced Explosive Incidents Countermeasures, Maritime Security Reaction, Bomb Detection and Dog Handling.

All members are required to attend the PSG Training School in Baguio City before they are given special assignments in the various sub-units of the command.