By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos
MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Tuesday admitted that Gen. Nicolas Torre III was removed as Philippine National Police (PNP) chief for refusing to comply with the National Police Commission (Napolcom) order to reverse the reassignment of senior officials.
“He did not agree with the directives that were coming out of Napolcom,” Marcos said, when asked about the reason for Torre’s dismissal from the top PNP post.
Marcos said he spoke with Torre several times about the Napolcom order, but the latter did not comply.
He emphasized a “very clear” chain of command, noting that “a civilian authority is the overwinning authority when it comes to the police.”
“Because the police [force] is technically a civilian organization, and Napolcom is the civilian authority that has the authority to monitor and to [oversee it]. It has powers — very specific powers in terms of the appointments, and that’s why they disagreed,” he said.
“But you know, we had many discussions about it beforehand. Hindi lang daw talaga niya magawa. So, sabi ko eh wala tayong magagawa kung ganoon ang sitwasyon (He just really said he couldn’t do it. So, I said, well, there’s nothing we can do if that’s the situation).”
The Napolcom, through Resolution 2025-0531 dated Aug. 14, ordered Torre to bring back Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez as deputy chief for administration and Lt. Gen. Bernard Banac back as Area Police Command-Western Mindanao commander.
Banac and Nartatez switched posts on Aug. 6 upon Torre’s order.
In the resolution, the Napolcom cited its power to exercise administrative control and operational supervision over the PNP under Republic Act 6975 or the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Act.
On Aug. 25, Torre was ordered to relinquish his post and ensure proper turnover.
Nartatez replaced Torre.
PNP public information chief Brig. Gen. Randulf Tuaño said upon Torre’s return from his leave Aug. 28 to Sept. 29, he would be assigned to the Personnel Holding and Accounting Unit, which is under the PNP Directorate for Personnel and Records Management. (PNA)
