The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) announced Saturday the “reorganization” of the Vice Presidential Security and Protection Group (VPSPG) into the AFP Security and Protection Group (AFPSPG).
This move, according to the military, is part of an ongoing effort to streamline the armed forces that began in February and has the approval of the Department of National Defense.
In a released statement, the AFP clarified that the vice president’s security unit was not disbanded but rather restructured to “unify security and protection operations.”
The reorganization aims to “ensure the continued, uninterrupted, and robust protection of the vice president within a more integrated and optimized framework.”
The AFP had previously announced the activation of the VPSPG in June 2022, an expansion of the Vice Presidential Security Detachment, to provide security for then Vice President-elect Sara Duterte.
The military highlighted that prior to June 2022, vice presidents were secured by the Security and Protection Battalion under the AFP General Headquarters and Headquarters Support Command, indicating that a dedicated military security group for the vice president was a more recent development.
The AFP asserted that the reorganized setup would be a “more efficient and effective way” of ensuring the safety and security of Vice President Duterte and future vice presidents.
The military reiterated its “full commitment” to protecting the vice president and other key government officials. It also issued an appeal to the public to “avoid spreading false or misleading information” regarding the reorganization.
“We enjoin our kababayans to use our communications platforms to promote unity, peace, and understanding, and not to sow discord, hatred, and division,” the AFP stated.