PNP Chief Remains Silent on Duterte's Letter

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil has chosen not to comment on Vice President Sara Duterte's recent open letter. The letter accuses the removal of 75 police personnel from her security detail as "political harassment."

According to PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo, "The chief PNP opted not to answer the Vice President’s statements out of respect. We’d rather address this issue silently."

Previously, Marbil confirmed that the 75 officers were reassigned to enhance street patrols, particularly in Metro Manila. He emphasized that this decision was part of a broader effort to rationalize the deployment of security personnel and was not intended to single out Duterte.

In her four-page social media post, Duterte asserted that she could manage without police protection but criticized the misinformation being disseminated, including Marbil's assertion that there were no threats against her. She also condemned the "malicious release" of a video showing her and her family at the airport before their trip to Germany on July 24. This video drew public ire as it surfaced amidst severe flooding in various regions due to a typhoon and the southwest monsoon.

On Sunday, Marbil stated that he had directed the PNP Police Security and Protection Group to base their deployment on a thorough threat assessment. "Our directive is to ensure that our limited security resources are allocated effectively, focusing on individuals who genuinely face significant security threats. This way, we can enhance our protective services for those in need while optimizing our overall public safety efforts in our communities," he explained.

Factors considered in the threat assessments include recent threats or attacks, the individual’s role in government or society, and intelligence reports.

Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story.