A MALACAÑANG official yesterday said the designation of a new acting commander of the Presidential Security Command (PSC) and the transfer of its former head to another unit did not violate the election ban on appointments or personnel transfers.
”Ayon po naman sa date na ‘yan, hindi naman po nag-violate ng anumang polisiya o order o batas so naaayon pa rin po ‘yun (Based on the date, there was no violation of any policy, order, or law),” Communications Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said in a briefing in when asked about the changes in the PSC leadership.
The Commission on Elections (Comelec), in Resolution No. 10999, prohibits the transfer of government personnel from January 12 to June 11, 2025, without prior approval from the poll body.
It also bans the promotion, hiring, and increasing of employees’ salaries and privileges from March 28 to May 11, 2025.
Malacañang on March 4 said Brigadier General Peter Burgonio has been designated as the acting PSC commander after the designation of Major General Jesus Nelson Morales as head of the Palace security team was “terminated.”
Castro said Morales’s designation had to be terminated because he was being transferred to another unit. He was reportedly designated as head of the Philippine Air Force’ Air Education, Training and Doctrine Command.
”Na-terminate po ‘yung kanyang command dahil po ililipat po siya ng ibang duty, ‘yun lamang po ang maaari nating sabihin patungkol po diyan sa PSC (He was terminated from the (PSC) because he will be transferred to another duty. That’s the only thing we could say about the PSC),” she said.
The changes in the PSC leadership comes amid reports that recently arrested Chinese spies were conducting surveillance on presidential facilities, military and police camps.
Castro, however, said there was no mention of such incidents in connection with the change in the PSC leadership.
”Wala pong nabanggit sa atin na ganoon. Lumabas na lamang po na iyon nga po ang kaniyang command will be considered terminated dahil mayroon na pong papalit bilang PSC commander (It was not mentioned to us. It was just disclosed that he will be terminated because there will be a new PSC commander),” she said.
