Torre says no hard feelings, open to another govt job
ALL is well in the 228,000-strong police force after Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. assumed the post of PNP officer-in-charge last Tuesday, following the relief of Gen. Nicolas Torre III as police commander.
“The turnover was smooth and we are not seeing any crisis,” Nartatez told an interview with GMA News’ “Unang Balita.”
Torre said he has no hard feelings and does not resent President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for removing him from his post because he is a “good soldier” who always follows orders.
“Look at me straight in the eye. Do I look like somebody who is bitter?” he told reporters at the House of Representatives where he visited Rep. Leila de Lima (PL, Mamamayang Liberal) and brought her a birthday cake.
“I have no grudge, and I’m a good soldier. If there’s an order, I just follow it,” he added.
A jovial Torre even joked that he has found a new job as a food delivery rider, “and I saw that it was a birthday cake, so I delivered it. So I brought this cake to her (De Lima). I also wished her a happy birthday.”
Torre refused to say if he has spoken with the President after Nartatez was appointed as his successor, invoking “executive privilege.”
While he is prepared to continue to serve the government in another post, Torre said he would rather wait for the President’s move before commenting.
“Masyado namang nauna ang karwahe diyan, ‘pag tatanggapin o hindi. Wala pa ngang announcement (It’s putting the cart before the horse if I’m going to say that I’ll receive the offer or not. There is no announcement yet),” he said.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro confirmed that a government position is being offered to Torre but refused to give details about the new post.
She said the details would be made public as soon as Torre accepts the offer.
“Hindi pa po natin maisisiwalat ang detalye patungkol po dito pero confirmed po na may inaalok pong posisyon (We cannot disclose the details yet, but it is confirmed that a position has been offered),” Castro said.
Many were surprised over the relief of Torre, who took over as PNP chief only last June 2. Since his assumption, he introduced programs in the PNP, including a five-minute response to emergency calls and enhanced police presence in the streets to deter crimes.
“Salamat po sa suporta nyo! (Thank you for your support),” Torre said in his Facebook page on Tuesday afternoon, hours after the assumption ceremony for Nartatez which he did not attend.
TORRE-REMULLA RIFT?
Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla has said Torre’s decision to reassign senior police officials, without consultation from the National Police Commission (Napolcom), was part of the “consideration” why he was relieved.
Among those affected by Torre’s order was Nartatez, the then PNP’s No. 2 man as PNP deputy chief for administration, who was reassigned as commander of the Area Police Command-Western Command.
Nartatez deflected questions why Torre was relieved as PNP chief, saying “I don’t want to speculate about that circumstance.”
“I was called and then I reported and they gave me the instruction to lead the PNP, that’s why there was a turn-over. In leading the PNP, our objective is to accomplish our mission and we discharge our function,” he said.
Asked if he spoke with the President about his assumption and what were his marching orders, he said: “The time i spoke with President Marcos was when he ordered me to go back to Manila for the changes.”
Torre denied that his relationship with Remulla has been damaged.
“Yung pag-premise niyo ng question na ‘beyond repair’ (na ang aming relationship], para bang may nasira. I’m telling you, simula kahapon sa official statement ng Secretary Jonvic, ‘di ba? May nasira ba? Wala naman na (The way you premised the question and said that our relationship is ‘beyond repair,’ it’s as if something was damaged. I’m telling you, since yesterday, in Secretary Jonvic’s official statement, was anything damaged? There was nothing, right? Nothing),” he said.
Torre said he support’s Remulla statement that “it’s all the President’s choice.”
“This is not the first time it has happened in my career. It happened time and again, and I always managed to bounce back,” he said, adding: “I really appreciate the gesture; I really appreciate the support and the love (of my supporters). But don’t worry, I’m okay.”
“I don’t think this is something I’d want to reconsider if given the chance. I’m still duty-bound to keep the peace,” he added.
The former PNP chief also wished Nartatez the best in his career, saying his replacement is “a very good officer.”
Castro denied that Torre’s relief was “messy,” explaining that the President talked with the former police chief to inform him about his removal as PNP chief.
“Nagkausap naman po sila at alam po natin na naiintindihan ni General Torre kung ano iyon naganap at nirirespeto rin po niya kung ano po iyong naging desisyon ng Pangulo (They talked and we know that General Torre understood what happened and he also respects the President’s decision),” she said.
Asked about the reasons behind Torre’s relief, Castro said in Filipino:
“Secretary Jonvic Remulla has probably made it clear (Tuesday) that there are issues that have not been agreed upon and we just have to respect the wisdom of the President on this matter,”
She also dismissed as mere speculation the claims of the Makabayan bloc that Torre’s removal reflects internal cracks in the administration.
Torre said that for the second time in his career, he has taken a leave of absence and “I’m thinking about how long it will be, since it is for the approval of the chief PNP.”
“I’m planning to use the maximum leave authorized, my vacation leave, my service leave,” he said. “Obviously, I need the time. I need the time off. I also need the time off to answer reporters.”
‘NO FACTIONS’
Nartatez said police commanders called him and assured him their units are “intact and performing their normal duties.”
“So I don’t see any crisis in our organization. Otherwise, it would be a breakdown of discipline. We have not seen such (case),” he said.
In an interview with radio dzBB, Nartatez said the PNP is a professional organization and its members follow rules, policies and procedures.
“Engraved in our badge are service, honor and justice,” he said, adding that policemen would follow whoever will be designated as their leader, “especially when he is giving legal orders.”
“There are no factions here in the PNP,” he stressed.
REVAMP
In an interview with reporters at Camp Crame, Nartatez said the PNP, under his leadership, will be implementing changes in key positions.
“If we’re talking about major changes, we will study if the organization is working, see if our commanders are working. We will audit our units,” he said, saying the reshuffle or movement of police officials in the PNP is normal since this is needed to ensure the accomplishment of the PNP mission to enforce laws, prevent crimes, maintain peace and order, and ensure public safety and internal security.
He said any reassignments in the police force will be “confirmed” by the Napolcom because “we have a procedure, we have a policy and we have to implement that.”
In a statement, Nartatez assured the public that any reassignment in the PNP will be guided by “clear rules and processes.”
“These are not arbitrary moves but deliberate decisions aimed at strengthening the service and ensuring that our people are placed where they can serve best,” he said.
“Reshuffling is essentially about proper placement. We have established processes that ensure fairness and transparency in these movements…These mechanisms are effective and are strictly observed at all levels, including regional offices and national support units,” he also said. – With Jocelyn Montemayor
