VP Sara's camp initially sought jail stay, photos: Remulla

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte’s camp initially wanted her to be arrested and jailed at Camp Crame, asking about detention arrangements, including food, before deciding to proceed to the court to post bail, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla bared yesterday. Remulla said Duterte’s team apparently wanted to generate images of the Vice President behind bars and in handcuffs. But the police opted to treat her with courtesy befitting the country’s second-highest elected official. “They wanted her to be jailed here. We said, ‘why jail her immediately?’ In the end, they refused, changed their minds and contacted us again to say they would go directly to the Quezon City court,” he said at a press briefing at Camp Crame. Remulla rejected claims that Duterte was harassed during the service of the arrest warrant, saying no SWAT team or armed police unit was deployed at her residence or office. “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 thing,” he added. “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,” Remulla said. He challenged Duterte’s camp to release closed circuit television footage showing any alleged harassment during the service of the warrant. Meanwhile, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has formed a team to validate Duterte’s claim that she is under surveillance, Director Melvin Matibag said. Matibag said the NBI is willing to provide Duterte round-the-clock security and investigate any evidence she may submit regarding her claim. Duterte’s security is continuously assessed by concerned agencies and necessary adjustments will be made based on validated information and prevailing threat, the Armed Forces of the Philippines said. AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla issued the statement amid claims by Duterte that there are threats to her life. – Helen Flores, Pia Lee-Brago, Rainier Allan Ronda, Ghio Ong