The Office of the Vice President (OVP) has dismissed claims that Vice President Sara Duterte's recent meeting with security officials was an attempt to secure the sector's loyalty, saying she was merely doing her job while the President was out of the country for his inaugural state visits.
"Malinaw na malinaw po na yung mga taong rational na nakakaintindi mabuti kung ano yung nangyayari, alam ho nila na ginagawa lang po ng ating Vice President yung kanyang trabaho at mandato (It is very clear that those rational people who understand the situation know that the Vice President was only doing her job and mandate)," OVP Spokesperson Reynold Munsayac said in a joint press briefing with the Department of Education on Thursday, Sept. 8.
Munsayac was responding to claims that Duterte was ingratiating herself to the military and police in order to secure their loyalty for her possible future electoral run.
Duterte was designated as the government's caretaker while President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. was on three-day state visits to Indonesia and Singapore.
The President, who was Duterte's runningmate in the last election, appointed the latter as officer-in-charge from Sept. 4 to Sept. 7.
On Sept. 5, Duterte met with the country's security sector for a security briefing to discuss the peace and order situation in the country and how it can be maintained until Marcos comes back.
During the meeting she ordered that the country's security force must show "no mercy to terrorists and criminals."
It was meeting with officials from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and its major services—the Philippine Army, Philippine Air Force (PAF), and the Philippine Navy—at the DepEd central office in Pasig City.Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and its major services—the Philippine Army, Philippine Air Force (PAF), and the Philippine Navy; Philippine National Police (PNP), Bureau of Fire (BFP), Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), and Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).
It was held at the DepEd central office in Pasig City.