VICE President Sara Duterte, the feisty daughter of former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, finally broke her silence and release a 4-page statement last July 29, 2024 that mainly painted P/Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil, director general of the Philippine National Police (PNP) as a “liar” over the latter’s reasons behind the withdrawal of her police security detail and engaging in “political harassment” against her.
The PNP recalled the 75-personnel security detail of Duterte on July 22, the day Pres. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. delivered his State of the Nation Address (SONA), which Duterte declined to attend.
Devoid of any endearment towards Marbil, the Vice President repeated her earlier statement that she has “no problem” discharging her duties despite the PNP’s decision to remove her police security detail. She quickly riposted the following, however:
“Ngunit may problema ako sa mga kasinungalingang ipinapahayag sa taumbayan—lalo na kung ang mga kasinungalingang ito ay mula mismo sa pinakamataas na opisyal ng kapulisan.”
(“But I have problem with the lies being told to the public—especially if these lies are coming from the highest official of the police.”)
In countering Marbil, the second Chief PNP under the Marcos administration, Duterte noted that the assignment of VIP security for the Office of the Vice President is not by the authority of the PNP but, by the National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM), which supervises the PNP. She added this is to precisely prevent the Chief PNP from interfering with the security arrangement of the Vice President.
“Ang Vice Presidential Protection Division (VPPD) na isinailalim sa PSPG (Police Security Protection Group) ayon sa utos ng NAPOLCOM ay sadyang ginawa para hindi pakialaman ng mga tulad mo ang security ko at ng mga susunod na Bise Presidente ng bansa. Malinaw ito sa mga dokumento ng NAPOLCOM at PNP.”
Duterte said she wished the issue to die down because there are more pressing issues the country is facing other than her security.
She noted, however, that Marbil had already conducted three separate interviews explaining the reasons on the removal of her security. She said she also “understand” Marbil for coming out with many reasons as it is “natural for liars” to come out with various excuses and explanation.
“But I cannot stomach the continuing deception being told to my countrymen” (“Pero hindi ko na maatim ang tuloy-tuloy na panlilinlang sa aking mga kababayan”).
Among others, Duterte said the reason why the VPPD was created is to avoid pulling out local policemen in the field for her protection during her provincial engagements.
It is also false for Marbil, Duterte added, to claim that she agreed to the “request” to pull out her security detail as she never received such request.
“Walang request the nangyari. Sinabihan lang ng PSPG na kukunin nila ang mga (police) personnel.
“Hindi na kami nakipagtalo dahil ikaw naman ang batas, ‘di ba? Kasunod nito ay lumabas na ang relief order na inutos mo. Ito ay batay na rin sa dokumento ng PNP.”
Duterte also chided Marbil for claiming she has no “threat” that the PNP decided to pull out her security.
She averred there was “malice” in the sudden proliferation of a CCTV footage showing her and her family on their arrival back in Manila after their scheduled trip to Germany last July 24, thus putting her young children potentially in harm’s way.
She also narrated that “police operatives” went to the subdivision where she and her children are staying to conduct a “casing” of her residence. “Kung hindi ito napigilan ng mga nagmamagandang-loob na opisyal ng homeowners’ association, hindi ko na alam kung ano pa ang maaring mangyari.”
“What constitutes a ‘threat’ to you,” Duterte asked, the question directed at Marbil. “Can the threat only come from external elements? Is it no longer a threat if the harassment is directly coming from government personnel,” she asked further.
“If there was no threat against me, why leave behind 45 police personnel that you chose personally,” she added.
Duterte also belittled Marbil’s claim that the relief of her 75 police security detail is for “police visibility” noting further that 38 of the relieved policemen came from Mindanao and transferred to the National Capital Region “as if there is no lack of policemen in Mindanao.”
She noted that since being elected mayor of Davao City in 2010, the problem of police to population ratio has always been a problem.
“What the PNP needs is a chief with modern outlook who would use modern technology, drones and innovations in order to solve the problem of peace and order,” Duterte added.
She bewailed that if the PNP can put into jeopardy her security what more of the ordinary citizen, referencing the brusque manner by which the PNP served the warrant of arrest against Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) leader, Pastor Apollo Quibuloy, in Davao City last June 10.
After detailing her reasons for assailing Marbil, Duterte declared:
“Let us spare the people from all the lies. Let us call it (for) what it is—a clear case of political harassment.”
She stressed that it was not up for Marbil to assess the threat against her and her family and that those pulled out already has her trust and confidence, noting they were formerly guarding her father during his presidency or were already guarding her as far back as 2007.
“It was (removal of her security detail) a targeted list and a targeted maneuver, nothing else,” Duterte averred.
Duterte said she is not accepting the 45 police personnel personally picked by Marbil as her new security detail.
She said she ordered their return to the PNP because illegal drugs and crimes remain rampant. “Sana naman makatulong ito (the policemen’s return to the PNP) sa trabaho mo.”
As a final swap, Duterte also told Marbil: “At laging tandaan—para hindi magkabuhol-buhol ang kuwento mo, laging magsasabi ng totoo.”