But Marbil says pull out coordinated with OVP, not political
Vice President Sara Duterte disclosed the Philippine National Police (PNP) leadership recalled 75 cops previously assigned to protect her.
The cops were all members of the PNP Police and Security Group.
“I want to assure the public that this Order will not affect my work in the Office of the Vice President,” Duterte said in a statement.
“I do hope, however, that with this latest directive of the Chief PNP, we hear less cries from the people regarding the proliferation of drugs in the country, and that even fewer shall fall victim to various criminal activities,” she added.
PNP chief Gen. Rommel Marbil explained the recall of police officers from protective security duties of various personalities, including some government officials, is meant to rationalize their deployment to security operations.
Marbil said prior coordination with the Office of the Vice President was made before the police officers rendering protective security were pulled out.
“We talked to them. Our PSPG talked to the chief of staff of our VP because they already have so many people there. We asked them if we can transfer our personnel and we transferred them because we really need them in the NCR,” he said after a press briefing.
He said the VP’s security is primarily under the Presidential Security Group (PSG) and that the PSPG only complements security details.
Marbil said they need more officers to be assigned on the streets to further boost peace and order measures, especially in urban areas.
“They are saying that she is being singled out. No. W need more policemen on the ground and even retired generals, so we pulled out their security because we need more men on the ground,” Marbil said.
The PNP chief said the measure was also related to his previous order of deploying at least 80 percent of policemen to the ground.
In September, the Office of the Vice President defended the deployment of 433 security personnel for Duterte in 2022 that was noted in a Commission on Audit report.
“Comparisons between Vice President Sara Duterte and the security personnel of former Vice Presidents are absurd and completely lacking basis,” the OVP said.
The statement was released after the Commission on Audit reported that the OVP had 433 security escorts in 2022, translating to 63 percent of the OVP personnel.
It was also a 455 percent hike from the 78 detailed military personnel under former Vice President Leni Robredo.
“The Commission on Audit found no adverse finding on the creation of the Vice Presidential Security and Protection Group,” the OVP added.
The OVP also defended the additional security personnel for Duterte by citing her other titles, including as Secretary of the Department of Education and co- vice chairperson of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC).
Duterte has since resigned from her Cabinet positions last month.
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline Sara Duterte confirms relief of 75 police assigned to protect her
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