ASEANEWS HEADLINE-POLITICS | MANILA: PNP chief Torre sacked
Photo shows President Marcos talking with Gen. Nicolas Torre III during the 124th Police Service anniversary on Aug. 12./ Noel Pabalate
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Marcos orders relief of PNP Chief Torre III; Nartatez named as replacement | ANC
The World Tonight: PNP Chief Nicolas Torre is taken out barely three months after he was appointed by President Marcos. His successor is a former deputy whom Torre recently reassigned to Mindanao as an area commander.
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Nartatez named PNP OIC; new post eyed for Torre
MANILA, Philippines — Barely three months after his appointment as chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), Gen. Nicolas Torre III has been relieved “effective immediately” by President Marcos.
Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin informed Torre of his relief in a letter dated Aug. 25.
“For the continuous and efficient delivery of public services in the PNP, you are hereby directed to ensure proper turnover of all matters, documents and information relative to your office,” the letter read.
The letter, a copy of which was obtained by members of the media yesterday, did not state the reason for Torre’s removal. Torre has yet to issue a statement on his relief.
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The firing of Torre, which came as a surprise to many, was preceded by reports of a rift between him and Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla over the reshuffle of 13 senior PNP officials, including Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr., without informing Remulla and the National Police Commission (Napolcom).
Hours after Malacañang confirmed Torre’s removal, Remulla led the turnover of command to Nartatez in a ceremony held at Camp Crame in Quezon City.
Nearly all police generals trooped to the Camp Crame multipurpose hall to witness the ceremony.
A memorandum sent to Marcos dated Aug. 25 showed that Bersamin has recommended Nartatez as the next PNP chief.
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“The undersigned respectfully requests for the President’s signature on the appointment,” Bersamin’s memo read.
‘Difficult but necessary’
At a press conference, Remulla said the decision of the President to remove Torre was “difficult but necessary,” adding it was made “in the national interest.”
Remulla said a reshuffle in the PNP was a factor in the removal of Torre as head of the organization.
“The President believes that national security apparatus must always work within the framework of the law,” the DILG chief said.
“With the recent developments, the President was presented with the facts and he determined that the best course of action is to uphold the role of Napolcom as it was intended by law. As part of this resolution, the President decided to relieve Gen. Torre,” Remulla sai
Days before he was relieved, Torre downplayed tensions with the National Police Commission (Napolcom) which had tried to dissuade him from reshuffling the police force, saying the issue had been settled internally.
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Napolcom wanted Nartatez back in his post as PNP deputy chief for administration and his replacement, Lt. Gen. Bernard Banac, reassigned to his previous post as Area Police Command Western Mindanao director. The two officials switched posts on orders of Torre.
In its recently issued Resolution No. 2025-0531, the Napolcom said it has the power to review, approve, reverse or modify revamps implemented in the PNP.
High profile cases
Before his appointment, Torre led high-profile operations, including the arrest of former president Rodrigo Duterte at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport and accused trafficker and sex offender Apollo Quiboloy in Davao City. He was the fourth PNP chief under the Marcos administration.
Torre was the first graduate of the Philippine National Police Academy to be appointed chief of the 235,000-strong national police force. He is a member of PNPA Tagapaglunsad Class of 1993.
In his speech during the 124th Police Service anniversary celebration on Aug. 12, Marcos said the PNP is “on its right track” to regaining public trust through its more responsive actions.
The President lauded the five-minute response time strategy, an initiative launched by Torre when he assumed his post last June.
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“Five minutes – just a relatively small window of time – but five minutes can mean the difference between safety and danger; even between life and death,” the President said.
As part of the Aug. 12 celebration, Torre demonstrated to Marcos the five-minute emergency response at the PNP Command Center at Camp Crame. Remulla was present during the ceremonies.
Asked if there were other reasons for Torre’s dismissal apart from the latter’s refusal to implement the Napolcom’s order, Remulla said: “That is between the national security apparatus and him and that is an executive privilege we cannot divulge.”
Before his ouster, a video circulated on social media platforms showing Torre arriving in Tuguegarao City in Cagayan on board a black sport utility vehicle with heavy security escorts.
He also made news in July when he took the challenge of Davao City acting Mayor Sebastian Duterte to fight him, and ended up as winner “by default” in the charity boxing match after the mayor failed to show up.
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Despite the issue on the Napolcom’s order, Remulla said he and Torre had a great working relationship.
“We never had disagreements and save for the last few days about certain things and until now I still consider him not only as a colleague but someone who I have gone to battle with,” Remulla said.
He claimed to have tried to get in touch Monday night with Torre but the latter reportedly did not pick up on his call.
As there is no word yet if Torre would opt for early retirement, Nartatez cannot be promoted yet to four-star general, an issue the Napolcom convened as a whole would tackle soon, according to Remulla. Torre will reach that mandatory retirement age of 56 on March 11, 2027.
Another post for Torre
Remulla said Marcos is considering Torre for another government post which he did not divulge.
On the manifesto of support for Torre that was making the rounds before his relief, Remulla said he is confident officers and personnel of the PNP will continue to follow the chain of command.
“I think those statements were done in an emotional state. I think in the end they will follow their oaths and be true to their service,” he said.
On calls for him to resign, Remulla said he leaves it to the President’s discretion.
The PNP, for its part, has acknowledged Torre’s relief and Nartatez’s appointment.
Despite the sudden transition, the PNP assured the public that it remains steadfast in its mandate to serve and protect the country with professionalism, as well as with integrity and accountability.
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“We also appeal to the public to avoid speculation and the spread of unverified information. The PNP is committed to transparency and will provide timely updates as developments unfold,” it said in a statement.
In his speech after assuming command, Nartatez vowed to continue implementing Torre’s five-minute response policy “to assure the public of timely intervention and protection.”
The 31st PNP chief said police officers are always expected to respond to any calls for assistance from the public or to other emergencies. “It’s part of our managed police operations,” he said.
He also vowed to weed out scalawags in the police force through rigorous implementation of integrity monitoring at all levels.
“To weed out rogues in service, integrity is the cornerstone of public service, essential in gaining the trust and confidence of the community,” Nartatez said.
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Nartatez, a native of Santa in Ilocos Sur, is a graduate of the Philippine Military Academy Tanglaw-Diwa Class of 1992.
He had once been assigned as chief of the police force in President Marcos’ home province of Ilocos Norte.
Despite a perceived disagreement with Torre, Nartatez lauded his predecessor for “steering the PNP to what it is today.”
He added there is no conflict within the PNP that led to Torre’s ouster as PNP chief after just over two months at his post.
“I don’t find any conflict or rift, but we follow orders,” Nartatez said.
Asked if he would reinstate the officials Torre had reassigned back to their original posts, Nartatez said they would follow the normal procedures.
“Officers come and go. We always serve the trust and confidence of the appointing authority,” he said.
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Torre can still hold the four-star general rank until he reaches the mandatory retirement age of 56 on March 11, 2027.
Nartatez said it is within Torre’s rights if he opts not to retire early from the service. He added Torre can stay at the Office of the Chief PNP if he wants to.
Nartatez learned of his impending appointment on Monday afternoon but kept mum as he waited for an official order from Malacañang.
Torre, on the other hand, was apparently unaware that he would be relieved as he was present during the commemoration of National Heroes Day at the Libingan ng mga Bayani where Marcos was the guest of honor and speaker.
The President even acknowledged Torre’s presence at the start of his speech.
On his Facebook account, Torre shared a post with an accompanying photograph of his charity boxing match against Duterte. — Emmanuel Tupas
Memento Maxima Digital Marketing
