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AFP vows VP Sara's security won't be compromised

Philippine News Agency

By Priam Nepomuceno
December 12, 2024, 4:54 pm

MANILA -- The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) will keep providing security to Vice President Sara Duterte as part of its mandate to secure ranking government officials, its spokesperson said Thursday.

This came after Duterte reportedly wrote a letter to AFP chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. saying that she would no longer accept replacement security personnel once the military component of the Vice Presidential Security and Protection Group is recalled.

"Sa AFP, mandato po namin yun na i-secure ang ating (In the AFP, it is our mandate to secure our) President and also our Vice President. It is our mission at the Presidential Security Command to protect the President, the Vice President, and other dignitaries from harm and embarrassment. And with this mission, we have to fulfill it to the letter," Col. Francel Margareth Padilla said in a press briefing at Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

Padilla, however, said she has yet to read the Vice President's letter.

She maintained that the AFP is committed to protecting the President and the Vice President, being the country's top leaders.

"It is our mission and we will perform it accordingly," she said when asked what the military would do if the Vice President declined their replacement.

Padilla added that the AFP would see to it that the security of the Vice President would not be compromised.

Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said it respects the Vice President's decision.

"That is the prerogative of the VP. As for the part of the PNP, we provided the 25 PNP personnel as requested by the AFP. With respect to the security of the VP, it is within the ambit of authority of the PSC (Presidential Security Command). So if there is any communication between the OVP and the PSC then we will respect the prerogative of our VP," PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo said in a press conference at Camp Crame, Quezon City.

Asked if the Vice President will allow to avail of private security, Fajardo said will be up to the decision of the PSC.

"We want to focus on our mandate and one of our mandates is to provide security to our protectees and we commit that if we provide PSP (police security personnel), our security forces would put their lives on the line to protect their principal," she added. (with reports from Lloyd Caliwan/PNA)