The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is investigating the identities of personnel assigned to provide security for Davao City Rep. Paolo ‘Pulong’ Duterte after a video involving the latter in a bar fight went viral.
According to AFP Public Affairs Office chief Colonel Xerxes Trinidad, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has authorized Duterte to keep some members of the military as part of his security detail in accordance with applicable rules and regulations amid the polling season.
“In line with this, the AFP is currently undertaking an internal inquiry to thoroughly verify and validate the identities of the personnel designated to provide security to Representative Duterte,” Trinidad added in a statement released late Wednesday evening.
Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Police General Rommel Marbil previously stated that two police officers and two soldiers appeared in a footage allegedly showing Duterte assaulting a man at a bar in Davao City.
Marbil clarified that the two police officers were not authorized to serve as Duterte’s security detail.
“We saw in the video that there were four, two police officers and two armed forces personnel. For the police officers, they are not authorized, they are moonlighting,” the PNP chief said.
Marbil previously announced that the two police officers captured in the video, along with their commanders, would be dismissed from service for providing unauthorized security to the Davao lawmaker.
Meanwhile, Trinidad said the AFP would work closely with the PNP and other relevant agencies to support any inquiries or investigations regarding Duterte’s security detail.
“The AFP remains a professional and disciplined organization committed to upholding the rule of law and ensuring that all personnel conduct themselves in accordance with the highest standards of military service,” Trinidad said.
A businessman earlier filed a complaint for physical injuries and grave threats against Duterte before the Department of Justice (DOJ) in connection with the February 23 incident.
