Vice President Sara Duterte lashed out at Philippine National Police chief Rommel Francisco Marbil for the pullout of 75 police personnel from her security detail, calling it a "clear case of political harassment."
Marbil earlier said that police personnel from the Vice Presidential Protection Division (VPPD) were pulled out because more policemen had to be deployed in the National Capital Region and that there was no immediate threat against her.
In a strongly worded open letter issued Monday, Duterte called Marbil a "liar."
"Let us spare our people from all the lies. Let us call it what it is — a clear case of political harassment... It was obviously a targeted list and a targeted maneuver — nothing else," she said.
She said that the VPPD, which is under the Police Security and Protection Group according to the National Police Commission, was created exclusively for the purpose of securing her and succeeding vice presidents without the meddling of the PNP chief
She also denied that there was a request from the PNP to pull out 75 police officers from her detail.
"The PSPG informed the OVP that they will be getting the personnel. I did not argue with you because you are the law right? Afterwards the relief orders signed by you were released," Duterte said.
She also slammed Marbil's remark that there was no security threat against her, noting that there was a "malicious attempt" to release the video of her departure from the Philippines.
"I don't care if it was only me, but the video also showed my husband and my minor children which became a big security threat," Duterte said.
She revealed that some PNP operatives went to her place of residence to do some "casing," with some policemen making inquiries on the rental house where she and her children live.
Duterte said that members of her security detail were pulled out after she resigned from the Department of Education and her announcement that she would not attend President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s State of the Nation Address because she was the "designated survivor."