PNP CHIEF Gen. Nicolas Torre III yesterday said he has relieved two provincial police directors for failing to comply with his program requiring a five-minute response to emergencies.
“They failed,” Torre said in ambush interview in Quezon City, a day after disclosing he has relieved eight chiefs of police in Metro Manila for the same reason.
Torre said the two officers “will have a chance also to cope and then maybe wait for another opportunity to be given a commander’s position.”
Torre did not name the two or the provinces where they were assigned.
“We’re not going to say it. Actually, we do not want to say it because we do not want to embarrass our people,” he said, adding other officers have applied for the vacant positions.
On Monday, Torre said three provincial directors in the Visayas were “cautioned” for failing to comply with the program, during a simulation exercise.
He also announced the relief of eight chiefs of police in the National Capital Region (Caloocan, Navotas, Valenzuela, Mandaluyong, Marikina, San Juan, Parañaque and Makati cities).
Torre reiterated that police commanders will be relieved from their posts if they fail to comply with his program.
“There are many officials waiting for a break,” he said.
Asked if the quick response program can be implemented across the country, Torre said regional police directors are doing their best to do it in the provinces.
“If we see it’s not applicable (in the provinces) then so be it. But I don’t want any excuses here in Metro Manila because some are saying it’s not applicable here,” said Torre.
Torre has said the program can be implemented in Metro Manila, noting he has successfully carried it out in Quezon City a few years ago when he was the director of the Quezon City Police District.
“We’re going to relieve commanders (who will fail to meet the program) because we want our commanders to know how to command literally, not figuratively,” he said.
Torre said a police commander should be capable of commanding his people not only on paper but also through radio.
Malacañang said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday reiterated his marching orders to Torre to improve police visibility and ensure quick and emergency response throughout the country, after observing how the hotline 911 operation works.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said Torre, in a meeting with the President, showed footage from body cameras worn by on-duty police personnel who were patrolling the streets.
The police showed they are able to respond to and address emergency calls within three minutes after the calls are made through hotline 911.
Torre has promised police response within five minutes in the first six months of the implementation of the program, and will later reduce the response period to three minutes
Castro said Marcos reiterated his directive for the police force to ensure that people feel genuinely safe, through the enhanced police visibility and quick, to coordinate with the Commission on Human Rights to ensure that human rights are upheld during police operations. – With Jocelyn Reyes
