PNP chief mum on Duterte’s letter

VP Sara Duterte and PNP Chief Rommel Francisco Marbil

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine National Police chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil has no comment on Vice President Sara Duterte’s open letter in which she called the pullout of 75 police personnel from her security detail “a clear case of political harassment.”

“The chief PNP opted not to answer the Vice President’s statements out of respect. We’d rather address this issue silently,” PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo told reporters on Tuesday.

Marbil earlier confirmed the removal of 75 police officers from Duterte’s security detail, saying they were transferred to beef up street patrols, especially in Metro Manila. He stressed that it was part of a move to rationalize deployment to individuals authorized to be given protection and was not meant to single out Duterte.

READ: PNP removes all 75 cops from Sara security detail

In her four-page letter posted on social media, Duterte said she could still work even without police protection but added that she could not stand the lies being spread to the public, including Marbil’s claim the PNP saw no threat against her.

She also slammed the “malicious release” of a video showing her and her family at the airport before they departed for Germany on July 24, drawing public criticism since this was at the height of massive flooding in many areas due to a typhoon and the southwest monsoon.

Threat assessment

On Sunday, Marbil said he had ordered the PNP Police Security and Protection Group to rationalize its deployment based on a comprehensive threat assessment.

“Our directive is to ensure that our limited security resources are allocated effectively, focusing on individuals who genuinely face significant security threats. This way, we can enhance our protective services for those in need while optimizing our overall public safety efforts in our communities,” he added.

Key factors in the assessments will include recent incidents of threats or attacks, the individual’s role in government or society, and intelligence reports.