Eight personnel of the Presidential Security Group (PSG) have been found infected with Covid-19, PSG commander Col. Jesus Durante III reported on Wednesday.
The eight were assigned at the Office of Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, who initially tested negative for the new coronavirus.
Two of them were officers, while six were enlisted personnel. All were on outside duty and did not have any close contact with President Rodrigo Duterte, Durante said.
“PSG also assures the public of the President’s safety despite this unfortunate situation as we continually implement the strict health protocols to our personnel and their dependents to guarantee that the President is safe and healthy,” Durante said in a statement.
He added that as a safety protocol, PSG personnel assigned to the president were consistently being tested for Covid-19.
Durante’s announcement came five days before Duterte’s 5th State of the Nation Address slated on July 27 at the Batasang Pambansa Complex.
On Tuesday, the New Executive Building in Malacañang was shut down as an employee of the Presidential Communications Operations Office tested positive for Covid-19.
“The President’s close-in security personnel further endure being at a separated billeting area to limit their contact even from their comrades and loved ones just to lessen exposure and to ultimately ensure that they do not become the threats, themselves,” Durante said. John Ezekiel J. Hirrro