Questioning the “morality” and the “propriety” of spending more than P500 million for the security of Vice President Sara Duterte in the past two years, Presidential Adviser on Poverty Alleviation Larry Gadon said on Sunday, Aug. 4, that the money could have been better used on helping poor Filipinos.
(From right) Vice President Sara Duterte and Presidential Adviser on Poverty Alleviation Larry Gadon (Inday Sara Duterte/MANILA BULLETIN)
In a statement, the presidential anti-poverty czar lamented the “lavish security” of the Vice President, who have maintained 433 security detail in the last two years before the Philippine National Police (PNP) lately relieved some 75 of those personnel.
“This situation is abnormal, and it raises serious concerns about the morality and propriety of such expenditures. In all countries, the second in command is seen as a potential threat to the top leader, but in this case, it's the exact opposite,” he said.
Gadon questioned the need for such a large number of security personnel deployed to Duterte.
"I would have kept quiet on this issue if not for the ridiculous exaggeration of some people like Sen. Bato De La Rosa calling on private citizen groups to augment the security of VP Sara as if there is a constant, imminent grave threat and danger to her life," he said.
"She still has 373 security personnel even after removing the 75 PNP details; is the 373 still pitifully lacking? Some people surrounding her even claim that this is political harassment. Saan banda (In what scenario)? I have nothing against VP Sara personally; I am just seeking justification on this issue," he added.
According to the official, the Vice President’s 433 personnel in the past two years earned P50,000 each monthly.
"This translates to over P20 million a month, and when multiplied by 24 months, it totals an astounding P480 million," Gadon pointed out.
Adding the P55 million that the OVP spent from 2022 to 2024 on special duty allowances for military and uniformed personnel, this translated to more than P500 million.
“This means that more than half a billion pesos have been spent on the lavish security of one individual, a sum that could have been better allocated to building much-needed school infrastructure or providing food for the people,” Gadon stressed.
The Manila Bulletin reached out to the Office of the Vice President (OVP) for a comment on these allegations, but it has yet to respond as of posting time.
Gadon also raised concerns about the impact of this massive security detail on the broader population, explaining that "when the standard ratio of one policeman for every 2,000 individuals is used, this deployment deprives hundreds of thousands of Filipinos of essential police services."
“It’s an outrageous mis-allocation of resources that directly impacts public safety," he argued.
Although Duterte claimed that she can continue with her duties despite the pullout of 75 PNP personnel from her security detail, she tagged the move as a “political harassment” because it was timed after she resigned as Department of Education (DepEd) secretary.
This led to long-time Duterte ally Senator Ronald Dela Rosa to call for volunteers to secure the Vice President.
But Duterte instead asked that her supporters ensure her family—husband, children, and mother—are safe from harassment, whether online or in-person.