MANILA, Philippines — Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro on Tuesday said that the security detail provided by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to Vice President Sara Duterte is “a privilege, not a right.”
It was Duterte's choice to have her security detail reviewed or removed, Teodoro said in a television interview.
“Puwede niya namang i-request kung ganun, na totoo nga na nasabi niya na wala na siyang tiwala sa security niya (In that case, she can request for that, if she indeed said that she does not trust her security [detail])," he said.
"She can request to review it because the security detail provided by the AFP is a privilege, not a right," Teodoro said.
“It depends on her request to the AFP. But if it's a question of trust then we can have them withdrawn, but as far as I know, [choice] niya iyon,” he added.
Teodoro said the AFP is composed of trained professionals who fulfill their duties regardless of who they protect.
The AFP personnel detailed as the Durerte’s security team are under the AFP Security and Protection Group (AFPSPG).
The AFPSPG provides security not only to the Vice President but also to other VIPs (very important persons) as approved by the Department of National Defense.
