AFP Removes Security Commander Linked to OVP Confidential Funds Case

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has relieved Col. Raymund Dante Lachica of his post as commander of the AFP Security and Protection Group (ASPG), which is responsible for providing security to Vice President Sara Duterte.

AFP Public Affairs Office chief Col. Xerxes Trinidad confirmed that Lachica was reassigned to the Philippine Army on October 4. His removal comes amid an ongoing investigation into the alleged misuse of confidential funds of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) in 2022.

“The reassignment of Col. Lachica is connected to a pending case before the Office of the Ombudsman,” Trinidad said, without providing further details.

The ASPG was formed following the reorganization of the Vice Presidential Security and Protection Group (VPSPG), which had been created to ensure the safety of the Vice President and her family. Lachica’s leadership of the ASPG placed him at the center of the unit tasked with safeguarding one of the country’s highest officials.

Sources said Lachica’s reassignment is part of the military’s standard procedure when an officer faces administrative or legal challenges, to ensure the integrity of ongoing investigations and the operational continuity of security units.

Meanwhile, the Office of the Vice President said it had not received any official notice or explanation from the AFP regarding Lachica’s removal. “We have not been informed of the reasons behind the reassignment,” the OVP stated.

The case involving the OVP’s 2022 confidential funds has drawn public scrutiny amid broader debates over the use of intelligence and confidential funds by government agencies. The Ombudsman’s investigation is expected to shed light on the allegations in the coming months.

As of this writing, neither Lachica nor Vice President Duterte has issued a personal statement on the matter.