Former PNP Chief Nicolas Torre III “Not Bitter” over Relief from his Post
NICOLAS TORRE III – The former Philippine National Police Chief was straightforward in answering the possibility of being the next head of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).
Less than three (3) months since he appointed him to lead the national police, President Bongbong Marcos ordered for now-former PNP Chief Torre to be relieved from his post. The said move came as a surprise and left many Filipinos questioning what’s happening.
The letter released by Malacañang which was signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin did not include the reason why Marcos Jr. has decided to let go of Torre as the chief PNP.
Currently, the national police is under the lead of Police Lieutenant General Jose Melencio Nartatez who was appointed as the officer-in-charged (OIC) of the PNP following Torre’s relief from his post. He was the second-in-command of the PNP when Marcos was deciding on who will succeed former PNP chief Rommel Francisco Marbil who was retiring at that time.
There are speculations of an “internal conflict” but Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla clarified that Torre has always maintained a “great” relationship with the Marcos administration. DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla also stressed that the relieved PNP Chief has not been charged with any criminal or administrative offense.
According to Interior Sec. Jonvic Remulla, former PNP Chief Nicolas Torre III has not committed any violation against the law. He stressed that his relief was simply a choice of the President to take the PNP to a different direction.
During the press conference, Remulla claimed that he heard that Pres. Bongbong Marcos is considering to offer another government position to former PNP chief Nicolas Torre III. Malacañang also recently confirmed the claim of the DILG Secretary but refused to get into the details as to which position is being offered to Torre.
Recently, during his first interview with the media following his relief from his position, former PNP Chief Nicolas Torre III was asked about the possibility over the position of the NBI Chief. It is now vacant after former NBI director Jaime Santiago tendered his “irrevocable resignation”.
However, based on a post of ABS-CBN News, former PNP Chief Nicolas Torre III admitted that he is not qualified to be the chief of the NBI. Reportedly, the NBI Act mandates that only lawyers with at minimum of 15 years of practice are qualified to head the investigation bureau.
Torre invoked “executive privilege” when asked if he has already spoken with Marcos Jr. Meanwhile, he stressed that his support to the President remains. During the interview, he also told the media to just wait for further statements over the position being offered to him.
“Let’s just wait. Masyado namang nauna ang karuwahe dyan. ‘Pag tatanggapin o hindi eh wala pa ngang announcement,” the former PNP Chief said.
On his relief from his position, former PNP chief Nicolas Torre III stressed that he is “a good soldier”.