‘Sara still has 320 bodyguards, more than Marcos Jr.’

MANILA, Philippines —  Even with the recall of 75 members of her security detail, Vice President Sara Duterte still has 320 security personnel, which is even larger than President Marcos’ contingent, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said.

Remulla made the revelation as he defended the recall of 75 police personnel from Duterte’s security detail, saying it is no big deal.

“She still has 300 bodyguards. That’s bigger than the President’s contingent,” Remulla said in a media forum yesterday.

Remulla, however, declined to provide specific numbers on the President’s security detail, citing security concerns.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) earlier explained that the redeployment of some of Duterte’s security detail was to address the shortage of personnel in Metro Manila. It ensured that the move was properly coordinated.

Duterte criticized the recall as a “clear case of political harassment,” noting that the cops who had been transferred were the ones she trusted.

She also appealed for the safety of her family, claiming that police “cased” her house and had tried to find out where she lives.

Sen. Ronald dela Rosa, a former top cop, called on retired police and military personnel to volunteer to provide additional security to the Vice President.

PNP chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil assured Duterte that the country’s police force continues to provide top-tier security services for her, noting that she “retains the most extensive security detail compared to her predecessors.”

A 2022 Commission on Audit report on the Office of the Vice President indicated that Duterte’s Vice Presidential Security and Protection Group had 433 members, making up the majority of its 683 staff.

This is a 455 percent increase from the 78 detailed military personnel assigned to former vice president Leni Robredo during the windup of her term in 2021, according to the report.

VP’s husband decries

drug caseMeanwhile, Vice President Duterte’s husband Manases Carpio decries former senator Antonio Trillanes’ drug smuggling and graft complaints filed against him and his brother-in-law, Davao City Rep. Paulo Duterte.

“It is appalling that former senator Trillanes is trying to revive his accusations against me, Cong. Paulo Duterte and what he calls the ‘Davao group’ for involvement in illegal drugs when a Senate inquiry he himself took part in found no reason to recommend our indictment,” Carpio said in a statement.

Duterte, for his part, claims innocence against the accusations hurled against them.

“I have always maintained my innocence and I am confident that the judicial process will clear my name. It is important to rely on our legal institutions rather than resorting to trial by publicity or baseless allegations,” the legislator said in a statement.

He also reminded that it is the same case that Trillanes “has made a fool out of himself when he presented his alleged evidences against me.”

Trillanes is also facing libel charges filed against him by Carpio and Duterte for falsely accusing them of extorting money from companies regulated by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board.