COA notes 455% increase in security personnel at OVP in 2022

The Commission on Audit (COA) has noted a 455 percent increase in the number of security positions assigned in 2022 at the Office of the Vice President’s (OVP) security and protection group.

In its annual audit report, COA said there were 433 non-plantilla positions assigned at the Vice-Presidential Security and Protection Group (VPSPG) in 2022 compared to only 78 posts in 2021.

It said that in 2022, “there are 174 filled up plantilla positions and 509 non-plantilla/detailed personnel" compared to 204 filled up plantilla and 331 non-plantilla positions in 2021.

It also said that VPSPG had the highest number of non-plantilla personnel with 433, followed by contract of service with 70. There were three each assigned as consultants and Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) protocol officer, it said.

For plantilla personnel at OVP in 2022, COA said there were 72 assigned as permanent, 70 assigned as co-terminus, and 29 as contractual and casual, and two Presidential appointees and one elected.

In 2021, it said there were 128 non-plantilla personnel or job order employees; 101 contract of service employees; 78 military detailed personnel; and 24 consultants. The plantilla personnel consisted of 89 co-terminus, 83 permanent, 22 contractual, seven casual, two Presidential appointees and one elected.