Vice President Sara Duterte has confirmed that 75 security personnel detailed at the Office of the Vice President have been relieved.

These police personnel were assigned at the Vice Presidential Security and Protection Group (VPSPG).

Among the 75 were 33 close-in security personnel who have served Duterte since she was mayor of Davao City.

“I confirm that on 22 July 2024, an order was issued by the Chief of Philippine National Police relieving all of the 75 PNP Police and Security Group personnel that were previously assigned for my protection,” Duterte said in a statement.

However, Duterte said the order will not affect her work.

“Tuloy-tuloy pa rin ang ating trabaho upang makapaghatid tayo ng serbisyo sa ating mga kababayan – lalong-lao na sa mga liblib o underserved communities sa ating bansa,” Duterte said.

“I do hope, however, that with this latest directive of the Chief PNP, we hear less cries from the people regarding the proliferation of drugs in the country, and that even fewer shall fall victim to various criminal activities,” Duterte added.

In a report by GMA News Online, PNP chief Police General Rommel Marbil confirmed that the PNP reduced the number of police personnel in the Vice President’s security detail.

“Yung security ng Vice President is not under anymore sa amin. It’s under the Presidential Security Command,” Marbil said.

“What we’re doing right now, especially sa NCR na kulang kulang ang mga tao natin, we have to ano…nagbawas po kami ng mga tao na hindi naman nila kailangan,” Marbil added.