He also said that her claims of there being threats from members of the police force are untrue.
During a press conference on Monday, September 7, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla said that the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) followed established protocols in serving the warrant of arrest against Vice President Sara Duterte.
The official noted that the unit closely coordinated with the Vice President’s security team and maintained communication with her camp throughout the process.
“It was coordinated very closely by the head of security and the CIDG. There was constant communication between parties. It was not a cloak-and-dagger na sinusundan namin,” Remulla said.
It was last Saturday, September 5, when the Vice President posted bail at the Quezon City Regional Trial Court for the three counts of grave threats filed against her in connection with her controversial statements against President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez in November 2024.
However, before entering the building, the Vice President noted before the cameras as she spoke to her legal counsel, Atty. Michael Poa.
She uttered that she felt “unsafe” and claimed that there were policemen who have been monitoring her movements since 2023. She even went as far as saying that her children were also threatened.
Duterte also told that she was harassed before posting bail.
In response, Remulla said the PNP offered the Vice President protection and assistance and assured her camp that she would be accorded appropriate courtesy while the legal process took its course.
“We made it clear that she will be accorded all the respect here. She will not be jailed and handcuffed, and she will be presented to court the next day,” he said. “We gave them the option to come here (Camp Crame), but they decided to go to the Quezon City Regional Trial Court.”
The Interior Secretary then presented footage of the warrant service, stressing that the operation was conducted without an armed or tactical component.
“In the service of the warrant, there was no SWAT; there was no armed component. The women [police personnel] are all unarmed. They were duly accepted into the residence and into the office. Any thoughts of harassment during the service are totally untrue,” he said.
Remulla also told that any available CCTV footage from the Vice President’s office or residence may also be presented to help establish the circumstances surrounding the service of the warrant.
For his part, PNP-CIDG Director PMaj Gen. Robert Alexander Morico II said that the CIDG personnel proceeded to the Vice President’s office after receiving the warrants on Friday afternoon to formally inform her and coordinate the necessary arrangements with her security team.
Morico said the PNP also prepared appropriate custody arrangements after Duterte’s camp initially indicated that she may stay at a PNP facility, but their camp proceeded to the RTC.
Remulla then maintained that the PNP was simply carrying out a lawful court order and acted with professionalism throughout the process and stressed that law enforcement institutions must continue to perform their duties fairly and responsibly, regardless of the position or status of the person involved.
