Vice President Sara Duterte on Tuesday, July 23, confirmed that the chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) ordered the relief of 75 police personnel previously assigned for her security.
In a statement, the official said that a Notice of Relief was issued against all 75 personnel of the PNP Police and Security Group.
“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,” she added.
The Vice President assured the public that the order “will not affect my work in the Office of the Vice President.”
“Tuloy-tuloy pa rin ang ating trabaho upang makapaghatid tayo ng serbisyo sa ating mga kababayan — lalong-lalo na sa mga liblib o underserved communities sa ating bansa (We will continue with our work to deliver services to our countrymen — especially in the far-flung and underserved communities in our country),” she stressed.
The official, however, expressed hope that the latest move by the PNP chief will address issues of criminality in the country.
“I do hope, however, that with this latest directive of the Chief PNP, we 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 added.
Earlier, PNP chief Rommel Marbil defended the move by saying that they needed to reassign police personnel because of the lack of manpower, especially in the National Capital Region.
In 2022, fresh from her win as vice president, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) activated the Vice Presidential Security and Protection Group (VPSPG), a separate unit from the Presidential Security Group (PSG), for Duterte.
In her statement then, the Vice President said the formation of the VPSPG was made in anticipation of “future elections” and the possibility of “strained relations” under that scenario between the president and vice president.