WHY SO MANY? | Netizens question Sara’s OVP having 430 security personnel after COA report

September 1, 2023 , 11:39 AM

(September 1, 2023) – Six out of 10 personnel in the Office of the Vice President (OVP) are from the Vice Presidential Security and Protection Group (VPSPG), a report by the Commission on Audit (COA) showed, prompting netizens to raise questions about the necessity of having that much security personnel.

In actual figures, the VPSPG is comprised of 433 members, more than twice the total number of plantilla positions filled in the OVP led by Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio.

Members of the VPSPG are classified under non-plantilla or detailed personnel. Aside from security detail, the OVP has 70 contract of service personnel, three consultants, and three Department of Foreign Affairs protocol officers under the same category. Overall, the OVP has 683 plantilla and non-plantilla personnel.

In 2021, the OVP headed by former Vice President Leni Robredo only hired 78 military personnel, which means that the figure ballooned by 455% in the following year when the VPSPG was officially formed.

Social media users could not help but be shocked upon learning about the huge number of security personnel in the OVP.

What?? Kaya pala onti na lang mga guard sa mall.

‼️SWOH had 433 security personnel in 2022
‼️Leni only had 78 in 2021 (so a 455% increase)
‼️SWOH’s security team constituted 63% of all people in OVPhttps://t.co/C5IAQBLfqe

— JC Punongbayan, PhD (@jcpunongbayan) September 1, 2023

Sara had 433 security escorts in 2022 – COA | https://t.co/vRti6YePO9.
(WASTE OF TAX MONEY) https://t.co/jQLGnCsC4z

— Manuel Laserna Jr. (@lcmlaw_ph) August 31, 2023

Teddy Casiño, the chairperson of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, even described it as a “mini army.” Others, meanwhile, wondered why it was even necessary for the OVP to have so many security personnel in the first place.

VP Sara has her own mini army. What the hell… https://t.co/NLnzxV6CsI

— Teddy Casiño (@teddycasino) September 1, 2023

base sa mga survey, popular ang presidente at bise-presidente. bakit kinakailangan ng halos 400 na security persons ang OVP? https://t.co/s4sBjqnYPo

— mikee #HandsOffQueerActivists (@mikeetsukinoko) September 1, 2023

Another netizen brought up the other issues faced by the OVP, particularly the use of confidential funds worth P125 million last year.

While Robredo did not ask for confidential funds during her entire term, Duterte-Carpio was granted an additional allocation for this purpose when she took office. It was also alleged by ACT Teachers Rep. France Castro that the OVP used up the P125 million confidential fund in 19 days, which translates to a possible spending of P7 million per day.

Duterte-Carpio was not grilled about this during the OVP’s budget deliberations in the House of Representatives on Thursday because her allies, particularly presidential son and Ilocos Norte Rep. Sandro Marcos, moved to terminate the panel hearing as a form of “parliamentary courtesy,” much to the disappointment of Castro and the Makabayan bloc.

Some also raised concerns about how the government spends the people’s taxes.

7M per day
433 bodyguards

No wonder kinakapos ang maraming Pinoy

Sara had 433 security escorts in 2022 – COA https://t.co/A2XjbYDFlp via @Philstar.com

— Fern ii (@fercmal2) August 31, 2023

There goes your taxes.. https://t.co/d2aVmlsuPZ

— Rubian (@ollirdnaidur) September 1, 2023

Take note, pera ng bayan po ang ginagamit dito. Pinaghirapang pera ng bayan napupunta sa mga bagay tanging mga nasa gobyerno lang ang nakikinabang. https://t.co/DReBMhNJ6x

— Rachelle Villamor (@RachVillamor) September 1, 2023

Duterte-Carpio thanked the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Department of National Defense for granting her request to activate the VPSPG last year, saying it provides for the “continuity in security for all vice presidents.” She also noted that its separation from the Presidential Security Group can help resolve any possible “strained relations” between the president and the vice president in the future.

She touted the VPSPG for its “dedication and diligence” when the group marked its first anniversary last June 30.

“Let me thank all of you. Hindi niyo naman kailangan pero marami sa inyo ang personal ang suporta sa akin as vice president,” said Duterte-Carpio.

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