Sara slams PNP chief

(UPDATES) VICE President Sara Duterte on Monday lashed out at Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Rommel Francisco Marbil over the removal of 75 police personnel from her security detail, calling it a “clear case of political harassment.”

Marbil earlier said the removal of police personnel from the Vice Presidential Protection Division (VPPD) was due to the need to put more police personnel in the National Capital Region and that there was no immediate threat against her.

But in a strongly-worded open letter issued Monday, Duterte called Marbil a “liar” for his statements over the removal of her security detail.

Vice President Sara Duterte Photo from Official Facebook Page of VP Inday Sara Duterte.

While she said that she has no problems with the removal of her police personnel as security of the OVP and that she could work without security, she sees problems in Marbil’s statements.

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Notably, she said that the VPPD, which is under the Police Security and Protection Group, according to the National Police Commission, was created exclusively for the purpose of securing her and succeeding vice presidents without the meddling of the PNP chief.

She also denied that there was a request from the PNP for the removal of 75 police officers from her detail.

“The PSPG relayed to the OVP that they will be getting the personnel. I won’t already argue with you because you are the law, right? Afterward, the relief orders signed by you were released; this is according to the documents of the PNP,” Duterte said, calling Marbil by his first name instead of his rank and title.

She also slammed Marbil’s remark that there was no security threat against her, noting that there was a “malicious attempt” to release the video of her departure from the Philippines.

“I don’t care if it was me, but the video also showed my husband and my minor children, which became a big security threat,” Duterte said.

She also revealed that some PNP operatives went to her place of residence to do “casing,” with some policemen asking the rental house where she and her children live.

“What does a threat mean to you? Does a threat come from external elements? Is that not already a threat if the harassment comes from government forces?” Duterte said.

She also slammed Marbil for maintaining 45 PNP personnel that he personally chose to protect her.

“Remember, when it comes to the security of our family, I will be the one who will say who is appropriate for us, not you. You are just the law, not a god,” she said in Filipino.

Duterte also said that the relieved policemen were Mindanao police who were being transferred to the National Capital Region, which made Marbil’s claim of “increased police visibility” doubtful.

What they did to her, Duterte said, was a form of harassment that could be done to “ordinary people” like her friend and fugitive evangelist Apollo Quiboloy, who is wanted for child abuse and human trafficking.

“Let us spare our people from all the lies. Let us call it what it is — a clear case of political harassment…. It was obviously a targeted list and a targeted maneuver — nothing else,” Duterte said.

In a rejoinder to her letter, Manila 3rd District Rep. Joel Chua said Duterte should “keep quiet” and let the PNP do their job instead of accusing them of political harassment.

“It is clear from the PNP that her detail was removed to focus on more important jobs. In my opinion, the vice president should respect and trust the decision of the PNP because they know what they are doing,” Chua said.

He also said that there is no “political harassment” involved in the removal of her detail, noting that the PNP only wants their officers to work better.

Meanwhile, Duterte supporter Sen. Ronald dela Rosa asked retired soldiers and policemen to volunteer as security personnel for the vice president.

The senator turned to the social media platform X to appeal to retired members of the PNP and Armed Forces of the Philippines to render “free” protection services for Duterte after the PNP chief ordered a reduction of her security force.

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