PNP chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil (File photo)
MANILA – The recall of police officers from protective security duties of various personalities, including some government officials, is meant to rationalize their deployment to security operations, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said Tuesday.
PNP chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil made the clarification after Vice President Sara Duterte confirmed that 75 PNP Police and Security and Protection Group (PSPG) personnel assigned to her have already been relieved.
Marbil said a prior coordination with the Office of the Vice President (OVP) had been made before the police officers rendering protective security were pulled out.
"Kinausap namin, ang PSPG natin, ‘yung chief of staff ng ating VP na yung mga tao kasi marami na sila (We talked to them. Our PSPG talked to the chief of staff of our VP because they already have so many people there). We asked them na pwede namin ilipat (and) nilipat namin na kailangan na kailangan sa NCR [National Capital Region] (We asked them if we can transfer our personnel and we transferred them because we really need them in the NCR," he said after a press briefing held at the National Bureau of Investigation in Quezon City.
He said the VP's security is under the Presidential Security Group (PSG) and that the PSPG only complements security details.
“We have to get all our people because our policemen are already sleepless and are very tired of working beyond their working hours and they can’t work anymore especially after yesterday (State of the Nation Address duties). Who would replace them? So we are trying to get other policemen,” Marbil said.
Marbil said they need more officers to be assigned on the streets to further boost peace and order measures, especially in urban areas.
“They are saying that she is being singled out. No, we need more policemen on the ground and even retired generals, we pulled out their security because we need more men on the ground,” Marbil said.
The PNP chief said the measure was also related to his previous order of deploying at least 80 percent of policemen to the ground.
“If you will see in Camp Crame, we have to download and help our people on the ground because what we want is to limit their working hours to only eight hours. In doing this, we need to download all the excesses,” he added.
Under the PNP rules, only the PSPG is allowed to provide protective security personnel to those who have valid security threats to their lives.
Persons requesting protective security personnel would also have to undergo a threat assessment.
OVP assures unhampered work
Duterte, meanwhile, said the relief of the PSPG personnel will not affect her functions.
"I do hope, however, that with this latest directive of the Chief PNP, we hear fewer cries from the people regarding the proliferation of drugs in the country, and that even fewer shall fall victim to various criminal activities," Duterte said in a statement.
The Vice President also reiterated that her office will prioritize assistance and support to underserved areas.
"Tuloy-tuloy pa rin ang ating trabaho upang makapaghatid tayo ng serbisyo sa ating mga kababayan, lalong-lalo na sa mga liblib o underserved communities sa ating bansa (Our work is continuous to deliver services for our fellow Filipinos, especially in rural or underserved communities in the country)," she said. (with Stephanie Sevillano/PNA)
