VICE President Sara Duterte has expressed her willingness to hire private security guards if the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) withdraws her current security team. During a press conference on December 11,
Duterte stated she would not accept replacements from the military, emphasizing her intention to “seek security arrangements outside” the AFP.
Her remarks follow AFP Chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr.’s announcement on November 27 that Col. Raymund Dante Lachica, commander of Duterte’s security detail, along with other personnel, would be replaced. This move came after a controversial incident at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) involving Duterte’s security team, which prompted the Philippine National Police (PNP) to file charges of assault and disobedience.
Duterte confirmed sending a letter to Brawner last week rejecting the deployment of new military personnel. “If they remove personnel, they shouldn’t replace them. If none remain, I’ll seek professional security services outside the AFP,” she said.
Breaking Tradition
If implemented, Duterte’s plan would break from decades-long tradition in which the vice president relies on elite military and police units for protection. Duterte dismissed concerns about forming a private army, clarifying that any hired personnel would come from professional security firms and would not routinely carry firearms.
“This is one option we are preparing for in case the AFP pulls out the entire security detail,” she explained.
Trust Issues and Criticism of the AFP
Duterte cited trust as a key factor in her decision, stating, “Security is fundamentally a trust and confidence position. It’s difficult to entrust your life to someone you don’t know or trust.”
She also criticized the AFP for neglecting its constitutional duty to protect the country’s leaders. “There is a line of succession. You’re supposed to protect your number one and two because that’s your reserve. If you don’t protect your two, one day, you have no one,” Duterte said.
Security Controversy
The AFP’s decision to replace Duterte’s security team stems from an investigation into the VMMC incident last month. A video presented by the PNP showed Lachica pushing a PNP doctor during the transfer of Duterte’s chief-of-staff, Zuleika Lopez. Gen. Brawner justified the changes, explaining that the personnel under investigation could no longer effectively perform their roles.
In recent years, Duterte’s security detail has seen a significant increase. According to the Commission on Audit (COA), the number of military personnel assigned to her security ballooned from 78 in 2021 under former Vice President Leni Robredo to 433 in 2022 and 443 in 2023.
This ongoing controversy highlights growing tensions between Duterte and the AFP, raising questions about the balance of trust, tradition, and accountability in securing the nation’s top leaders.