SEN. Ronald dela Rosa yesterday appealed to PNP chief Gen. Rommel Marbil to allow Vice President Sara Duterte to choose her police security escorts.
Dela Rosa made the appeal during the hearing of the Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs on the alleged use of excessive police force in search for Apollo Quiboloy, leader of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, in his properties in Davao City.
Dela Rosa said the 31 police escorts assigned now to Duterte were not chosen by the Vice President herself.
He said he was asking on behalf of Duterte as an ordinary citizen and not as chairman of the committee. He noted Duterte’s complaint that she does not know the police escorts who remained assigned to herm, and she does not feel “comfortable” with them. “Maybe her security can be the cops from Davao City who which have long been with them, that she is comfortable with them. Can we provide her with that?” Dela Rosa said in Filipino.
Marbil said the Vice President has 358 security escorts coming from the Armed Forces and 31 from the PNP.
The PNP earlier said Duterte had 106 police security escorts but 75 have been recalled to be reassigned to areas needing police visibility, leaving her with 31 cops.
Dela Rosa said being a former Davao City mayor, the Vice President is comfortable with policemen as close-in security.
“Let us not talk about her military security escorts. We are just talking about the PNP. She is close with those policemen because they were her security escorts when she was still mayor. Can we allow the Vice President to choose who will be retained? I see no problem if you will not reinstate the 75 cops who were recalled,” Dela Rosa said.
“I am just appealing to you. Can you reinstate them? Can I get your commitment?” he added.
Marbil replied, “Of course, your honor, our chairperson.”
Dela said having trusted policemen as security escorts of the Vice President is important due to the threats on her life being the second highest official of the land.
Marbil has said Duterte’s security was reduced because no threat against her had been monitored.
