Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief General Nicolas Torre responded to Davao City Mayor Baste Duterte’s statement that the merit system no longer exists in the selection of the new police chief.
Torre’s response came after Mayor Duterte made a remark following Torre’s appointment by President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., replacing retiring General Rommel Francisco Marbil as PNP chief.
In a press briefing at Malacañang, Torre said Mayor Duterte should reflect on his father’s appointment of the first PNP Chief during his time as president.
“Rewind a bit to his father’s term. The Chief PNP of his father, a one-star general became automatic four-star general. Did he ask that? Did he question that? Torre said.
On May 30, Mayor Duterte questioned Torre’s appointment as PNP Chief from being the head of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG).
“The government now is not based on merit, look what happened. You have a PNP chief who jumped three ranks to become PNP chief.”, Mayor Duterte said.
It can be recalled that former President Rodrigo Duterte appointed then-Davao city police chief who was a one- star rank, brigadier general, now senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa as PNP chief.
Before becoming PNP chief, Torre, was a two star rank police major general.
Torre’s appointment as PNP Chief was controversial after he served as ground commander in high-profile operations, such as the arrest of Kingdom of Jesus Christ leader Pastor Apollo Quiboloy on human trafficking and sexual abuse charges.
Last March 11, Torre also led the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte on an International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant in relation to the crimes against humanity charges during his term as president of the Philippines .
(PTV photo)
Abner is an award-winning journalist. He received the prestigious 2015 Titus Brandsma Award for Community Communication in the Philippines and participated in the 2016 International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) of the United States of America, sponsored by the US Embassy in the Philippines. Founder of WATCH NORTH COTABATO, a media-citizens’ transparency group. He worked as a correspondent for the Philippine Daily Inquirer and CNN Philippines. His experience in broadcasting includes anchoring for Brigada News FM in Kidapawan and General Santos City and Brigada News TV. He anchors Tira Brigada via 105.1 Brigada News FM Manila, Mondays-Saturdays.