MANILA—Vice President Sara Duterte accused the government of conducting surveillance and harassment operations against her, saying authorities’ knowledge of her whereabouts raised questions over why police still went to her mother and children.

Duterte issued the statement a day after Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said authorities knew where she was the night before but did not force the implementation of an arrest warrant.

“We knew where she was the night before, but we did not force the arrest warrant.”

Duterte said Remulla’s statement appeared to support documents she claimed to have regarding alleged surveillance and harassment operations by the Philippine National Police and other government agencies.

“Ang mga salitang ito ni Secretary Jonvic Remulla ay tila nagpapatibay sa mga dokumentong matagal na naming hawak hinggil sa harassment at surveillance operations ng Philippine National Police at iba pang ahensya ng gobyerno laban sa akin.”

She alleged that surveillance operations by the administration had been ongoing for years and that government funds had been used for such activities against a sitting vice president.

She questioned why authorities went to her mother and children despite allegedly knowing her whereabouts.

“Isa lamang ang malinaw na sagot —upang takutin at sindakin ang aking pamilya.”

Duterte said government funds should instead be used to protect the public and pursue criminals and government officials involved in corruption.

“The pondo ng gobyerno ay ginagamit dapat para sa seguridad ng taumbayan—para tugisin at labanan ang mga rapist, gun-for-hire, terorista, holdaper, magnanakaw, at mga opisyal ng gobyernong tumatanggap ng maleta ng pera na galing sa taumbayan.”

She also reiterated her position on the issue of jurisdiction, saying she could not surrender to police because authorities could not guarantee her safety while in custody.

“Nais ko mang bigyang diin ang aming posisyon ukol sa isyu ng jurisdiction sa pamamagitan ng pagsuko sa pulisya, hindi ko magawa dahil hindi ninyo kayang ipangako na magiging ligtas ako sa loob ng inyong kulungan. Hindi ninyo maipangako na hindi ako sasaktan o aabusuhin habang nasa inyong kustodiya.”

Duterte cited the Philippine National Police’s arrest and transfer of former President Rodrigo Duterte to the International Criminal Court as another reason for her lack of trust in the police.

“Higit sa lahat, huwag nating kalimutan ang ginawang pagkidnap ng Philippine National Police kay Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte. Pati na rin sa marami pang ginagawang harassment ng pulisya sa mga sibilyan.”

She concluded by saying she did not trust Remulla or police officers whom she accused of following a corrupt government led by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

“Wala kaming tiwala sa iyo, Jonvic Remulla, at sa mga pulis na sunod-sunuran sa isang korap na pamahalaang pinamumunuan ni Marcos.”