VP Sara decries police ‘surveillance’ as political harassment

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte has again decried political harassment, this time in connection with her grave threats case and the subsequent arrest warrant issued against her, berating Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla and the police over alleged "surveillance operations." Duterte made the remarks in response to Remulla’s statement that they knew her whereabouts on Friday, the day the arrest warrant was issued, but did not apprehend her. "These words by Sec. Jonvic Remulla seem to solidify the documents we have long held regarding the harassment and surveillance operations of the Philippine National Police and other government agencies against me," she said in a statement on Saturday. "We do not trust you, Jonvic Remulla, as well as the police who are minions under a corrupt government led by (President) Marcos," Duterte added. The Vice President claimed that the current administration has reportedly been conducting surveillance operations against her in recent years. She questioned why authorities had to visit her mother and children when they knew her location. "There is only one clear answer – to scare and intimidate my family," she stated. Duterte recalled reports of other civilians allegedly harassed by the police, including her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, who was arrested in 2025 and brought to The Hague. The Vice President also stressed their position that she does not want to surrender and be placed under police jurisdiction due to "safety concerns." Despite Duterte’s allegations, the Philippine National Police (PNP) maintained it has not monitored any credible threat against the Vice President. "To date, however, the Vice President has not reported to the PNP any threat to her life or to the safety of her family, including the threats she said date back to 2023. Likewise, the PNP has not monitored any verified threat against the Vice President or her family," PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said in a statement Saturday evening. The PNP also affirmed its readiness to conduct security evaluations on safety concerns raised by Duterte. "The Philippine National Police remains steadfastly committed to the rule of law, ensuring that all our operations are conducted with utmost professionalism, impartiality, and absolute respect for individual rights without fear or favor," the PNP chief noted. — Rainier Allan Ronda