Remulla Speaks on Position Offered to Former PNP Chief Nicolas Torre III after Relief
Former PNP Chief Nicolas Torre III is offered a government position that has something to do with anti-corruption as per the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).
President Bongbong Marcos recently ordered the relief of Nicolas Torre as chief of the PNP (Philippine National Police). However, the letter released by the Palace did not mention why Torre was ordered removed by the President from the lead of the national police.
Torre was ordered to ensure a smooth transfer of the documents and the matters relative to the office. Police Lieutenant General Jose Melencio Nartatez was appointed as the officer-in-charge of the PNP following the relief of Torre.
Amid the issues and questions, there are speculations that Torre’s previous directive to move Nartatez to be an Area Police Commander in Western Mindanao from being the second-in-command might be the reason behind his relief. Nartatez claimed that he and Torre remain to have good ties.
The Department of Interior and Local Government also clarified that former PNP chief Nicolas Torre III did not commit any law violation neither has been charged with a criminal or administrative offense. According to Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla, it was simply a choice of the President to take the national police into a different direction.
Remulla also revealed that Pres. Bongbong Marcos was considering to offer relieved PNP chief Nicolas Torre III with another government position. However, then, he claimed that he has not aware about the specific post and he is not in the position to reveal it.
Malacañang also confirmed that Torre is indeed being offered a new post in the government. Both the Interior Secretary and Palace press official undersecretary Claire Castro stressed that it still depends on the former PNP Chief if he will accept the offer.
Recently, DILG Sec. Jonvic Remulla spoke on the position offered by Pres. Bongbong Marcos to former PNP chief Nicolas Torre III. Based on a report on GMA News, the Interior Secretary revealed that it has something to do with the anti-graft efforts of the government.
“It has something to do with anti-corruption. So, I’m telling you…The President still really believes in General Torre. It is still enough that he be… offered a position to fight corruption and to investigate corruption,” Remulla said.
Based on the report, the DILG Secretary further expressed that the situation just shows “that a difference of opinion does not necessarily mean an end of a friendship, an end of a working relationship”.
Following his relief, former PNP chief Nicolas Torre III claimed that he is “a good soldier” and he does not feel any resentment over the move.