Despite the removal of 75 police officers from her security detail, Vice President Sara Duterte still has over 300 bodyguards, according to Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla.
Remulla made this statement on Thursday in relation to the Philippine National Police’s (PNP) recent decision to withdraw 75 officers assigned to Duterte.
“She still has 320 security personnel. I don’t think it’s a bad matter to recall some of the personnel. She still has 300 bodyguards. It’s bigger than the president’s,” Remulla said during a press briefing when asked about the Vice President’s security situation.
Previously, Duterte criticized PNP Chief Police General Rommel Francisco Marbil for ordering the removal of 75 PNP Police and Security Group members from her security detail, labeling it as “political harassment.” However, the PNP spokesperson denied the Vice President’s allegations.
Duterte also expressed concerns about her family’s safety following the reduction in her security detail.
Marbil explained that the directive to rationalize the deployment of PSPG personnel was to prioritize those with high-security threats. He assured that the PNP continues to provide Duterte with “top-tier security services,” noting that her security detail is “the most extensive compared to her predecessors.”