Protection for Bongbong? Palace says only president, family entitled to PSG security

Malacañang on Tuesday said the Presidential Security Group (PSG) only provides security for the president and the first family only, following a request that it offer the same protection to a presidential bet.

“The PSG provides security for the president and the first family only,” acting presidential spokesperson Martin Andanar said at the Palace briefing.

Andanar acknowledged that in the United States, the government gives secret service is given to winning candidates. However, he said he is not familiar with the protocols of the PSG about this.

Earlier, Anakalusugan party-list Representative Michael Defensor urged Malacañang to consider offering PSG security to Marcos.

He said that Marcos is the only major presidential candidate with no personal protection extended by the government as he is not holding public office.

Defensor is running for mayor in Quezon City under Marcos Jr.'s slate.

"The problem with our setup here is that if you are not an incumbent official and you run for president or vice president, you have no government protection at all, unlike in the United States," he stressed.

"In America, all presidential and vice presidential candidates—whether they are current officeholders or not—are automatically safeguarded by the U.S. Secret Services, the same agency defending their sitting president against potential harm or attack," he added. — BM, GMA News