Two police officers allegedly moonlighting as bodyguards of Davao City First District Rep. Paolo Duterte are set to face charges of grave neglect of duty and grave irregularity of performance of duty, the Philippine National Police said Thursday.

PNP Chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil earlier ordered the dismissal of the two police officers who were caught on CCTV escorting Duterte when he allegedly threatened a man with a knife at a Davao City bar. 

In an interview, PNP spokesperson Police Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo said congressmen are allowed security detail of up to two personnel from the PNP Police Security and Protection Group. These were withdrawn at the start of the election period unless given an exemption by the Commission on Elections.

“‘Yung 2 pulis, napag-alaman natin na hindi ito otorisado. Lumalabas na mag-moonlighting sila as security detail. Sila ay kinasuhan na ng grave neglect of duty at grave irregularity of performance of duty,” she said in a TeleRadyo Serbisyo interview.

She noted the two police officers failed to act when Duterte allegedly started to threaten the complainant.

“Mabigat itong grave neglect of duty dahil nandun sila nung naganap ang pananakit pero hindi sila umaksyon bilang mga pulis. Mabigat itong 2 kasong ito. Tumatakbo na yung kanilang pre-charge investigation,” she said.

Meanwhile, the Armed Forces of the Philippines said it was conducting its own investigation after PNP Chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil said that two soldiers were also seen in CCTV footage of the bar incident.

“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,” AFP Public Affairs Office chief Col. Xerxes Trinidad said in a statement.

Trinidad confirmed that Duterte was authorized by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to retain a security detail composed of AFP personnel, in accordance with rules and regulations during the election period.

He added that the AFP would closely coordinate with the PNP and other concerned agencies in connection with any inquiries or investigations involving Duterte’s security personnel.

The Department of Justice earlier said a complaint for physical injuries and grave threats has been filed against Duterte over the incident at Hearsay Gastropub in Davao City around 3 a.m. of February 23, 2025.

The complainant, a self-confessed pimp, earlier claimed Duterte was triggered twice during the night of the incident: when one of his bodyguards failed to get a woman companion, and when Duterte only paid P1,000 to one of the hired women.

The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group has sent subpoenas to the complainant and the owner of the bar to get a copy of the CCTV.

Fajardo said the PNP was ready to provide protection to the complainant who has said he fears for his life.