Vice President Sara Duterte graces the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry's 50th Philippine Business Conference and Expo in Pasay City on October 22, 2024. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/File

MANILA — Vice President Sara Duterte announced she will not accept security replacements from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) because of trust issues.

The AFP last announced the planned recall of some of her security personnel  announced that members of the Vice Presidential Security and Protection Group (VPSPG) would be temporarily replaced with personnel from the AFP and the Philippine National Police (PNP). 

Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., AFP chief, explained then that the temporary replacements were in response to alleged assasination threats made by Duterte against the President, First Lady, and House Speaker during an online briefing on Nov. 23.

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Duterte said she wrote a letter to Brawner, to tell him not to send replacements for any personnel that would be recalled.

“So kung magtanggal sila, hindi na nila i-replace. Iwan na lang nila yung maiwan and kung wala man maiwan dahil tatanggalin nila lahat,” Duterte said.

(So, if they recall some personnel, they shouldn't send replacements anymore. They should just leave whoever is still there, even if none will be left if they recall everyone)

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The Vice President added that should all her security personnel be withdrawn, she is prepared to seek private security arrangements.

When asked who would fund the alternative arrangements, Duterte said that her husband, lawyer Mans Carpio, has been involved in making the necessary preparations.

“Security is fundamentally a trust and confidence position so it’s difficult to entrust your life to somebody you really do not know and just put there by somebody who you do not trust,” she said.

Pressed on whether she specifically distrusted President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. or Brawner, Duterte responded, “Silang lahat (All of them)... I don’t trust anyone right now except myself.”

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The VPSPG is composed of 334 AFP personnel, excluding members from the PNP, Duterte said.

Duterte in July said the PNP had recalled 75 personnel assigned to her security detail, with PNP chief Rommel Marbil saying the police officers were reassigned to improve police presence in Metro Manila.