AFP chief denies taking over Sara Duterte's security detail

MANILA, Philippines — Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. dismissed reports on Wednesday, November 27, that he's taken charge of Vice President Sara Duterte's security detail.

"It's not true that I will take over the VPSPG. Vice Presidential Security and Protection Group). It is still under the Presidential Security Command," Brawner told reporters in an ambush interview at the AFP headquarters.

Brawner's response comes after a November 26 Politiko report that said the AFP chief would take over Duterte's security group "any time" based on an anonymous source.

The AFP chief ruled out taking over Duterte's security team, saying there are several security issues currently plaguing the country. 

"We said that our country is beset with a lot of security threats, security challenges. So we're calling on our countrymen to keep calm and allow democratic processes to continue," Brawner said in mixed Filipino and English.

Brawner confirmed, however, that the AFP is in the process of replacing the military personnel assigned to Duterte's security team who have been placed under investigation.

"I want to clarify that the reason we are doing is because we received a subpoena from the Philippine National Police that members of the VSPSG will be investigated," he said.

"We don't know the specifics of the case or the investigation. But since they were issued a subpoena, it means they can't fulfill their role to protect and secure the vice president," Brawner added.

Without citing specific numbers, Brawner said the troops assigned to Duterte's security team would only be temporarily pulled out.

Brawner said Duterte would not be completely stripped of a security team. "We are going to replace them. So the vice president will not be left without a security. Her security is composed of the Philippine National Police members and the Armed Forces of the Philippines," he added.

Duterte's security team faces charges

The Quezon City Police District filed cases of direct assault, disobedience, and grave coercion against Duterte and her security detail following the chaotic transfer of her chief-of-staff, Zuleika Lopez, to a private hospital from the House of Representatives' detention center over the weekend. 

Besides Duterte, among those named in the complaint are Col. Raymund Dante Lachica, head of Duterte's security team. The PNP has asked the AFP to identify other members of Duterte's security team present at the scene.

A video presented by the Philippine National Police [PNP] on Wednesday shows Lachica physically pushing the PNP doctor-in-charge during Lopez's transfer. 

Duterte had attempted to thwart Lopez's transfer to the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC), which was ordered by the House good government panel.

The chaos at the House follows Duterte's insistence on staying beside Lopez during her detention, which lawmakers said was not allowed under House rules. — Cristina Chi