The abrupt removal of Police General Nicolas Torre III as chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) drew mixed reactions from lawmakers.
Senators agreed that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has the sole prerogative to remove Torre, while some House members questioned the move.
Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero acknowledged the surprise but emphasized, “Any PNP chief “serves at the pleasure of the President.”
Escudero, nevertheless said he is confident in the President’s choice for next PNP chief.
Escudero said he only hopes that the morale of the PNP will not be affected.
Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, a former PNP chief himself, said Torre acted “beyond his authority” of unilaterally relieving his second in command, Police Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr., without the President’s knowledge.
“Even when ex-President Estrada gave me the blanket authority to run and manage the PNP during my time as CPNP, I did not exercise absolute authority over the designations of the members of the Command Group,” Lacson said.
Still, Lacson stressed, “The relief of PGen Nicolas Torre III is the sole prerogative of the President…What is important at this point is a smooth transition,” he said.
Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada echoed the same view, stating, “He serves at the pleasure of the President, which means he can be removed at any time.”
Sen. Erwin Tulfo and Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa also supported the move, with Dela Rosa remarking, “Sanay na ang PNP diyan… It can adjust, adopt to all unexpected occurrences,” he said.
DISMAYED
In contrast, House members expressed dismay over Torre’s sudden removal after just 85 days. Akbayan Rep. Perci Cendaña posted, “Yung mga sangkot sa flood control dapat ang sibakin pero Chief PNP ang tinanggal. Anyare?”
Rep. Leila de Lima questioned the decision, saying, “They better have a good reason in doing that to a very popular, much appreciated and high-performing PNP Chief!”
Makabayan bloc members Antonio Tinio and Renee Co called the move “unmistakable evidence of escalating internal conflicts and systemic breakdown within the Marcos administration.”
They said Torre’s open confrontation with Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Remulla regarding unauthorized personnel changes “exposes serious divisions within the administration’s law enforcement machinery”.
“We urge the Filipino people to look past these internal power struggles and concentrate on pressing concerns,” Tinio said. (Hannah Torregoza, Ellson Quismorio)
