A member of the House of Representatives on Wednesday said people should not read much into the recall of some of the members of Vice President Sara Duterte’s security detail, saying that weaving politics into an otherwise operational prerogative of the Philippine National Police (PNP) does not serve the nation well.
During Wednesday’s daily press briefing at the House of Representatives, Manila Rep. Ernesto “Ernix” Dionisio expressed lament that too much politics is taking over the actions of PNP chief Gen. Rommel Marbil to reduce the number of security detail of the vice president.
“Huwag iyong puro politika. Konting galaw isisisi agad, konting mangyari, lalagyan ng malisya. There’s this presumption of regularity na ginagawa ng PNP ang tama. They’re not political institution, they’re for the peace and order of not just politicians but for the peace and order ng mamamayang Pilipino,” Dionisio said.
VP Duterte recently criticized Marbil for recalling several members of her security detail, a move that drew heavy flak from many people who said that among the vice presidents in the history of the office, it was VP Duterte who had the most number of police security.
“It's not always political eh. Kapag ka mayroon nangyaring ganon, nandiyan ang Presidential Security Command who’s really tasked to protect yung president and the vice president. Also, yung PNP natin is there to support yung protection ni VP Sara,” Dionisio said.
“And it's not like talagang wala na siyang security, meron parin naman. And how many security does one need? Only the PNP can answer that question and I think ang ating Chief PNP is really doing his job, seeing where best to deploy our police forces,” he added.
“At the end of the day, the VP is secured. We wish her well doon sa bakasyon niya rin na much-needed break na pinuntahan niya. We hope that she gets to rejuvenate and enjoy her much-needed break.”
VP Duterte recently went to Germany for a vacation with her family at the height of the heavy rains and floods brought about by the southwest monsoon as exacerbated by Typhoon Carina, drawing criticisms from many people.
For Deputy Speaker David “Jay-jay” Suarez, he referred to the statement of the Presidential Security Command (PSC) that there is ample protection for the vice president.
“Number one, I think the PSC has just issued a statement that there should be no concern regards the protection of the vice president. Number two, I've been following the issue at base naman po sa statements ng PNP, may basis po sila doon sa recall order,” Suarez said.
“I'm sure the PNP and the PSC will be steadfast in making sure that nothing untoward will happen. So, it’s nothing more than that, I think you know, we're just making a mountain out of a molehill,” he added.
Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, meanwhile, reacted to a statement by Sen. Bong Go that some of his security detail were recalled too.
“Mabuti pa siya may security,” said Barbers. “For us politicians who travel from one province to another, minsan naman po nagko-coordinate tayo sa local police eh. We cannot bring along all the police force to guard you everywhere you go, di ba. Hindi dapat ganun.”
“Kaya nga dapat iyong ganung kultura mawala iyon eh. Because as the PNP has stated mas kailangan ang visibility ng pulis duon sa mga area where crimes are prevalent, where crimes are ‘ika nga eh nangyayari,” he added.
“Ngayon securing politicians is also one of the tasks of the PNP, but in this case we cannot tag along everybody we want to tag along everywhere we go. Kung mabawasan tayo, so be it. Ang importante ang ating Pangulo, ang Bise Presidente, ang ating Chief Justice, ang ating Speaker, ang ating Senate President. Under the Constitution sila lang po iyong may allowed na merong ganyang klaseng mga security escorts.”
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