Presidential guards on self-quarantine from March 28 to April 10

Durante said PSG personnel are now prohibited from leaving the Malacañang complex to prevent possible transmission of the disease. (Pexels photo)

MANILA – All personnel of the Presidential Security Group (PSG) have been required to undergo self-quarantine starting March 28 until April 10, its head announced on Friday.

PSG chief, Col. Jesus Durante’s order came after ACT-CIS party-list Rep. Eric Yap, who tested positive for coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), attended a March 21 meeting at Malacañan Palace despite showing symptoms of the disease.

Durante said PSG personnel are now prohibited from leaving the Malacañang complex to prevent possible transmission of the disease.

He also clarified that the lockdown only covers PSG members.

“The lockdown applies only to all PSG personnel. I require all PSG personnel to go on self-quarantine, effective March 28. No PSG personnel (will be allowed) to go out of Malacañang complex until 10 April,” Durante said in a text message.

Durante said the Office of the President’s (OP) skeleton staff can still enter the Malacañang complex but will be subject to “regular screening procedures.”

In a phone patch interview, Durante said PSG personnel who have been considered as patients under investigation (PUIs) or persons under monitoring (PUMs) will have to stay in designated areas at Malacañang Park.

“We have quarantine areas for PUM and PUI. We have designated quarantine areas within the complex, especially at Malacañang Park,” Durante said in Filipino.

Duterte, family safe

President Rodrigo Duterte earlier put the island of Luzon under enhanced community quarantine to stop the transmission of Covid-19 in the Philippines.

Durante ensured that Duterte and the presidential family remain “safe,” despite the rising number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in the country.

“They’re okay. They’re safe. They are not moving anywhere,” he said.

Durante said Duterte would stay in Manila while Luzon is under quarantine.

As part of the preventive measures against Covid-19, meetings at Malacañan Palace are no longer allowed, Durante added.

Durante said the Palace premises will be disinfected regularly to ensure that Duterte is protected against Covid-19.

“We’re gonna do it (disinfection) again and again.

The President is also abiding by the provision of the lockdown,” he added.

As of Thursday, there are 707 confirmed Covid-19 cases in the country, with 45 deaths and 28 recovered cases.