BY VICTOR REYES and WENDELL VIGILIA
PNP CHIEF Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil yesterday said the PNP recalled some of the policemen assigned to secure Vice President Sara Duterte, to address lack of policemen in Metro Manila.
He did not give figures.
Marbil’s statement followed that of Duterte who said in a statement yesterday that the “PNP Police and Security Group” has relieved all the 75 officers assigned to protect her.
“I confirm that on 22 July 2024, an order was issued by the Chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) relieving all of the 75 PNP Police and Security Group personnel that were previously assigned for my protection.”
The Vice President was reacting to social media posts of supporters of her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, that police officers detailed to her were relieved and ordered to report to the PNP-National Capital Region Police Office.
Marbil, in an ambush interview, said the recall of the policemen who are from the Police Security and Protection Group (PSPG) was coordinated with the office of the Vice President (OVP).
“We recalled the personnel that they (Duterte’s office) don’t really need,” said Marbil.
“We’re trying to get people that they don’t need,” he added.
Marbil declined to say how many policemen were relieved from their assignment at Duterte’s office. But he said not all policemen assigned to her were recalled.
“No, we will not give the numbers but it’s not that large,” said Marbil, adding there are still “enough” policemen assigned to the Vice President, noting that it is part of the PNP’s job to “secure everybody.”
Marbil said the policemen who had been recalled from the Vice President’s Office will be assigned in Metro Manila.
“We are lacking personnel in National Capital Region,” said Marbil, adding that policemen in Metro Manila are working extra hours due to fill up the gap.
“What we are saying is we need more policemen on the ground,” said Marbil, adding that the Vice President is not being singled out in the PNP’s efforts to address the problem of lack of policemen in Metro Manila.
“Even retired generals, we have to remove their security. We need them (policemen) on the ground,” said Marbil.
The PNP said the policemen assigned to the Vice President merely complements the military-led Vice Presidential Security and Protection Group.
The Presidential Security Command assured the Vice President it is ready to ensure her security and safety.
Duterte assured the public the PNP’s order “will not affect my work in the Office of the Vice President.”
She also expressed hope that with Marbil’s “latest directive,” “we (will) 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.”
Duterte has said she and the President are “still friendly with each other on a personal level” despite her decision to leave the UniTeam, the ticket under which she ran with President Marcos Jr. in the 2022 elections. Last month, she resigned from the Cabinet as Education secretary and as co-vice chair of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict. — With Jocelyn Montemayor
