Statement of Pres. Bongbong Marcos on PNP Chief Nicolas Torre III Assuming Post
BONGBONG MARCOS – The Philippine President issued a challenge to newly-installed Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Nicolas Torre III at the change of command ceremony.
Amid the massive resignation of the Cabinet secretaries of Pres. Marcos following his courtesy resignation order, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla previously confirmed that the President has chosen the next PNP chief. However, he refused to name the appointee saying it should come from the Chief Executive.
Shortly following the Interior Secretary’s statement, Malacañang confirmed that Nicolas Torre III is the new pick of Marcos Jr. for PNP chief. Torre led the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group prior to his new appointment in the helm of the national police.
He was also the lead implementer of the controversial arrest of former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte and the transfer of his custody to the International Criminal Court. Undeniably, not only Pres. Bongbong Marcos and the Philippine government was severely bashed over Duterte’s ICC arrest but as well as new PNP chief Nicolas Torre III.
Torre assumed the post from former PNP chief Rommel Francisco Marbil. The latter’s expiry of his term’s extension is set on July 7. Recently, a PNP change of command ceremony was held at Camp Crame in Quezon City.
Based on a report on Inquirer, at the PNP change of command ceremony, Pres. Bongbong Marcos issued a challenge to new PNP chief Nicolas Torre III to keep the ranks of the police officers clean. He also ordered the new national police Chief to boost the investigation of the police officers who are facing accusations of law violation.
“This is my challenge to you: Keep the ranks of our police officers clean and honorable… Speed up the investigation of cases against police officers who violated the law so that we can deliver justice as soon as possible,” the President said.
Pres. Bongbong Marcos also urged new PNP chief Nicolas Torre III to take the lead over 230,000-strong police force to move as one with “precision, responds with compassion, and stands as a pillar of accountability”.
Furthermore, Marcos Jr. cited that the police must be ready to respond to the needs of the people whenever they are needed. Based on the report, he called on the PNP to make the Filipinos feel that there are police that are always ready to defend them.
“Whenever our people need them, police officers must be ready to respond immediately… Let’s make Filipinos feel that there are police officers who are ready to sympathize and defend them at all times,” he said.
At the PNP change of command ceremony, Pres. Bongbong Marcos told the police to avoid using their position for their own personal advantage. He called on them to become “instruments of justice, peace and progress”.
At the event, new PNP chief Nicolas Torre III vowed to make the police worthy of public trust.