MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte has no threats on her life at the moment, despite the PNP recalling 75 cops under her security detail, the Philippine National Police said.
“Wala po kaming nakita. She’s being loved by our people,” PNP chief Marbil told the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs Monday.
This came after a series of statements and open letters came out online, alleging that reducing Duterte’s security personnel was an act of “political harassment” and she claimed the recall jeopardized her family’s safety.
Last month, the PNP recalled 75 police officers in the Vice President’s security group. Following the announcement, the Vice President fumed online and published an open letter to Marbil while also noting that the recalled officers were those she trusted.
Marbil pointed out during the hearing that Duterte was not the sole public official to have scaled back police security.
“Lahat po tinanggalan natin because we don’t see any threat sa ibang tao at ang sinasabi ko nga kung meron pong reason, ibibigay po natin,” Marbil said.
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla had backed the recall and said there was no big deal with the relief of the cops in Duterte’s contingent, adding that the vice president still has the most number of security personnel compared to Marcos
Remulla did not provide a specific number of Marcos’ security personnel but said Duterte still has 320 security officers in her contingent.
The PNP said that Duterte was left with 31 security officers, far from what Remulla was saying. But Marbil said that Duterte continues to be secured by 358 personnel from the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
Also, there used to be 106 personnel assigned to the vice president to augment the Presidential Security Command (PSC), he said.
Orion Post already reached out to Duterte to get her side and clarify the claims made by the officials but she has yet to respond as of writing time.
A 2022 Commission on Audit report stated that Duterte’s Vice Presidential Security and Protection Group had 433 members, out of a total of 683 staff.
This is a 455 percent increase from the 78 military personnel assigned to former Vice President Leni Robredo at the end of her term in 2021.
Bato rocking the chair
During the hearing, Bato, a known Duterte ally and chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs, said that the PNP should allow Vice President Duterte the freedom to choose which members of her personal security detail should remain.
“I’m just appealing to you. I’m not questioning your wisdom. Of the 31 you’ve allowed to remain, can we give our vice president the freedom to choose who among them she may retain?” he said.
After Dela Rosa’s appeal, the PNP chief promised to “bring back” security personnel from Davao with whom Duterte would feel at ease.
Marbil said that the removal of 75 members from Duterte’s security detail was not influenced by political pressure. He explained that the PNP simply carried out its duty to streamline personnel deployment.
