MANILA – Vice President Sara Duterte confirmed that all 75 Philippine National Police (PNP) and Security Group personnel assigned for her protection were relieved after the PNP issued the order.
In a statement released by the Office of the Vice President (OVP), VP Sara said that she wanted to assure the public that the Order will not affect her work.
“Tuloy-tuloy pa rin ang ating trabaho upang makapaghatid tayo ng serbisyo sa ating mga kababayan – lalong lalo na sa mga liblib o underserved communities sa ating bansa,” VP Sara said.
Courtesy of Office of the Vice President (OVP)
Meanwhile, the PNP also confirmed that personnel assigned to protect VP Sara has been “recalled” as part of a general directive to increase deployment on the ground.
In a report by DZRH Reporter Edniel Parrosa, PNP Chief PGen. Rommel Francisco Marbil told reporters in an ambush interview that VP Duterte’s security will be reassigned as there is a need for more police personnel in many areas, particularly in Metro Manila.
“What we are doing right now, especially dun sa NCR (National Capital Region) na kulang-kulang mga tao natin, [we have to] nagbawas po kami ng mga tao na hindi nila kailangan,” Marbil said.
He further rationalized the decision by citing as an example what happened during the State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., when most of the police force in NCR were deployed to ensure peace and order during the event last Monday.
“You have to get all our people kasi sabi ko nga, ang computation for every man for every policeman is just about 500 na police na kailangan mo,” Marbil explains.
“Especially kahapon (during SONA) hirap na hirap. And these people cannot work anymore, puyat na puyat sila, so sino ang papalit sa kanila?” Marbil added.
According to reports, approximately 22,000 police personnel were deployed during SONA, but the PNP still needed additional forces from the Manila Shield Border Control from PNP CALABARZON and PNP Central Luzon to augment the much-need forces.
Marbil also clarified that VP Sara was not singled out but even police security personnel of generals and retired generals were also recalled. According to the official, there is no politics involved in the pull-out of police security personnel.
The PNP did not give further details on how many police personnel will be re-assigned to ensure peace and security in Metro Manila.
Meanwhile, in the same statement, VP Sara said that she is hopeful that the latest directive of the PNP Chief will result in fewer victims of the proliferation of drugs and criminal activities in the country.
“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,” the Vice President stated.
