The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) expressed willingness to augment the 400-member security deployment it gives to Vice President Sara Duterte if there is a reasonable cause for such decision.

AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla said that the military currently deploys hundreds of soldiers to ensure that Duterte would be safe while fulfilling her mandate as the second highest official in the country.

The soldiers are assigned at the Vice Presidential Security and Protection Group (VPSG), a unit activated by the military in 2022 after Duterte won the elections in tandem with President Marcos Jr.

The VPSPG is tasked to ensure the safety and security of the Vice President of the Philippines and her family. It used to operate distinctly from the Presidential Security Command (PSC), which provides close-in security to the country’s President. However, it was reported last week that the VPSPG has been placed under the control of the PSC as a sub-unit.

Padilla said that the operation of the VPSPG depends now on the prerogative of the Security Task Action Group (STAG) commanders, who decide how many soldiers will be securing the Vice President for each event.

“It involves different functions and there are security entitlements for each of them. It can be for area security, it can be for close-in security. It depends for every engagement,” the military spokesperson said.

The deployment, according to Padilla, could even increase if there is a need to do so.

“They [PSC] can make a request. If the PSC cannot support the security requirement for big engagements, for example a rally, we can do augmentation,” Padilla explained.

Last month, Duterte said that the Philippine National Police (PNP) recalled 75 cops from her security detail. She reportedly had 433 military and police security personnel in 2022.