GEN. Nicolas Torre III presided over a command conference with key police officials yesterday, a day after assuming the top post of the 220,000-strong PNP.
PNP spokesperson and Central Luzon police director Brig. Gen. Fajardo said Torre discussed one of his thrusts as PNP chief, which is the three-minute response to call for assistance.
Torre initially discussed the measure, one of the three pillars of his leadership, last Monday when he took the helm of the police force.
In its Facebook page, the Angeles City police station said one of the key agenda items discussed during the command conference was the “strategic deployment of PNP personnel to highly urbanized areas.”
Angeles City police chief Col. Joselito Villarosa Jr was among those who attended the command conference virtually.
“Another major focus of the conference was the conduct of a simulation exercise, emphasizing a three-minute response time to emergency situations. The exercise is part of ongoing efforts to improve operational readiness and ensure rapid police response across all stations,” it added.
Apayao police director Col. Arnold Razote also attended virtually the command conference, the provincial police said also on Facebook.
“The meeting focused on the strategic guidance and policy directions set forth by the new Chief PNP, aimed at strengthening operational efficiency, enhancing public service, and reinforcing the core values of the organization,” the Apayao provincial police said.
Meanwhile, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) expressed concern over Torre’s remarks that the number of arrests made in the campaign against illegal drugs will be among the metrics for assessing the performance of police officers.
“At the same time, we acknowledge the PNP Chief’s instruction that all police actions must remain ‘within the ambit of the law,’ and that ‘there are checks and balances’ to ensure accountability,” the CHR said.
While recognizing the intention of the PNP to protect communities and enhance public safety, the CHR said “highlighting number of arrests as a performance metric may unintentionally pressure officers to prioritize quantity over quality.”
“Historically, such frameworks have risked incentivizing shortcuts, abusive, or arbitrary practices, which undermine human rights and erode public trust in law enforcement,” the CHR said.
It said “effective policing” is not only measure by the volume of arrests but by the quality of investigations, respect for due process, and the consistent upholding of legal and ethical standards.”
“To this end, we encourage the PNP leadership to issue clear, rights-based guidelines for performance evaluation, ensuring that any operational targets do not compromise civil liberties or lead to discrimination, especially against vulnerable sectors who are prone to abuse due to lack of access to remedies,” the CHR said.
In a statement, Torre said, “We are not encouraging illegal shortcuts, nor are we measuring success solely by the number of arrests. What we are advocating for is genuine, lawful action. Everything we do is within the ambit of the law.”
“If you (policemen) believe in your case, go to the prosecutor… present your evidence. That’s the only way to prove you’re a good police officer — arrest the criminal, follow due process, and let the courts decide,” he added.
Torre welcomed the concerns raised by the CHR, stressing that the PNP is committed to upholding human rights.
“We welcome the reminder of the CHR and we assure them—and the Filipino people—that due process remains at the heart of our anti-drug campaign. We are committed to ensuring that no rights are violated in the performance of our sworn duties,” said Torre.
