NEWLY-appointed Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police General Nicolas Torre III on Wednesday addressed criticism from Davao City Vice Mayor-elect Sebastian “Baste” Duterte regarding his promotion to the top police post.
Baste Duterte had questioned Torre’s appointment, highlighting the three-rank jump Torre made from a two-star general to a four-star general.
In a press briefing, Torre responded by pointing to the appointment of Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa as PNP chief during the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte, Baste’s father. Torre noted that Dela Rosa, a one-star general at the time, was appointed PNP chief in 2016 and subsequently promoted to a four-star general.
“I respect his decision and his opinion. But let’s rewind a bit to his father’s term and look at who was the first PNP chief,” Torre stated. He further questioned, “What was the rank of his father’s first PNP chief, and what was my rank before becoming PNP chief? The first PNP chief under his father was a one-star general who automatically became a four-star. Did he question that then?”
Torre’s appointment, announced Monday by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., replaced Police General Rommel Marbil, whose extended term ends on June 7.
Prior to his appointment, Torre served as a two-star police major general, heading the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG). The CIDG was instrumental in the arrest and transfer of President Rodrigo Duterte to the International Criminal Court in The Hague in March to face crimes against humanity charges related to the previous administration’s war on drugs campaign.
Baste Duterte, during his sister Vice President Sara Duterte’s birthday celebration in The Hague last Saturday, criticized Torre’s appointment, claiming it lacked merit.
“The government now isn’t based on merit. You have a PNP chief who jumped three ranks. It’s not merit-based, it’s favor-based promotion,” Baste stated. He further criticized Torre’s involvement in his father’s arrest, implying a lack of due process.
