A position is being offered to relieved Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police General Nicolas Torre III, Malacañang revealed a day after his removal by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.—a move the Palace insists does not signal a deeper divide within the administration.
Palace Press Officer and Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro confirmed that Torre is being offered a position in the Marcos administration after his removal from the PNP top post.
Castro, however, did not disclose the role being offered to Torre.
“Hindi pa po natin maisisiwalat ang detalye patungkol po dito pero confirmed po na may inaalok pong position,” Castro said in a Palace briefing on Wednesday, Aug. 27.
Asked if the position waiting for the police general is a Cabinet position, Castro refused to give further details.
“Ibibigay po namin ang detalye kapag naayos na po at nabigay na po ang pag sang-ayon ni General Torre,” the Palace official said.
The Palace official veered away from calling the “surprised” transition of PNP leadership on Tuesday a “messy transition,” saying Torre was fully aware of the change in leadership and that he respects the President’s decision.
“Wag naman natin masabi na nagkaroon ng messy transition because nagkausap naman po sila at alam po natin na naiintindihan ni General Torre kung ano ‘yung naganap at nirerespeto rin po niya kung ano yung naging desisyon ng Pangulo,” Castro said.
She did not further explain the reason behind Torre’s removal, merely citing “that there were issues on which no agreement was reached.”
“[W]e just have to respect the wisdom of the President on this matter,” she reiterated.
Castro also believes that Torre’s sudden relief was not a sign of “deeper divide in the Marcos administration,” stressing that they see other ways where the police general can serve the public.
“Hindi po ‘yan nangyayari at hindi po ‘yan ang nakikita natin dahil sabi nga po natin si General Torre ay napakagaling na public servant at maaari pa rin po siyang magsilbi sa bayan. So, hindi po natin nakikita na kung ano yung nakikita ng Makabayan bloc, Castro said.
Torre was officially replaced as PNP chief on Tuesday by Police Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. (Betheena Unite)
