PNP chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil yesterday said 31 policemen are still assigned to secure Vice President Sara Duterte.
Duterte on Tuesday said all the 75 policemen, from the Police Security and Protection Group, assigned for her protection were relieved.
Duterte also said the decision of the PNP “will not affect my work in the Office of the Vice President.”
Marbil confirmed that 75 personnel were recalled, but said 31 PNP personnel were left to secure the Vice President.
“On the part of the PNP, we have 106 PNP personnel,” said Marbil, referring to policemen initially assigned to Duterte.
With the recall of the 75 personnel, Marbil said: “There are 31 (personnel) left – seven (commissioned) officers and 24 PNCOs (police non-commissioned officers),” he said.
Marbil stressed that the recall of the policemen was coordinated with Duterte’s office.
“We requested the office of the Vice President if we can recall 75 of our personnel because we really need personnel on the ground, in the National Capital Region and they agreed,” he said.
Marbil said the PNP remains committed to securing the Vice President, and it can deploy additional policemen to secure her.
“Let’s say she wants to go to far-flung places, we can send policemen as augmentation,” said Marbil, adding such deployment will be made on the request of Duterte’s office.
“We have many policemen in the regions. Let’s say the Vice President goes to a certain place, we can send additional policemen to make sure she is secured,” Marbil said.
