Torre goes on leave: I’m a good soldier

MANILA, Philippines — After unceremoniously being relieved as Philippine National Police chief, Gen. Nicolas Torre III took a leave of absence from the PNP yesterday, while making clear that, as a “good soldier,” he bore no rancor against President Marcos.

“Look at me straight in the eye. Do I look like somebody who is bitter? Do I look bitter? I have no ill feelings, I am a good soldier,” Torre told reporters at the House of Representatives where he visited ML party-list Rep. Leila de Lima, who was celebrating her birthday.

The four-star general, who still has two years before retirement in 2027, was visibly in a good mood as he entertained questions.

Torre, a product of the PNP Academy, was dismissed Tuesday as announced by Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla, who said part of the reason was insubordination and acting beyond his authority, without clearance from higher ups.

Torre said he had no bad blood either with the DILG chief, who has supervisory powers over the PNP.

“Nothing was damaged,” he said when asked about his feelings toward Remulla. “The premise of your question is, beyond repair, so it’s as if something is damaged. I’m telling you, since Tuesday, in Secretary Jonvic’s official statement, was anything damaged? There was nothing, right?”

“It’s all the President’s choice. He said it was all the President’s choice, which I supported,” Torre said, implying his support for Marcos’ choice of his successor, Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr.

Asked about his possible new appointment, Torre said: “Let’s just wait for the official announcement, if there will be any. It’s like putting the cart before the horse.”

He refused to disclose if he had talked to Marcos, citing “executive privilege.”

When asked about his possible appointment to head the National Bureau of Investigation, Torre replied, “I’m not qualified for it.” The NBI requires a lawyer as chief.

Torre went to the office of De Lima, bringing with him a cake, and jokingly said that he had taken a job as a rider delivering food to clients.

“Seriously speaking, when I was the chief PNP, Congresswoman De Lima was among the first visitors in my office,” he revealed.

“She visited me and we talked about things. So, I just reciprocated the gesture. I found out that it’s her birthday today. Actually, I knew it a long time ago. So I just really wanted to wish her well on her birthday. So I just brought a simple cake,” Torre added.

Widening cracks?

Malacañang, meanwhile, dismissed claims by the Makabayan bloc in the House of Representatives that Torre’s relief was an indication of “widening cracks” in the Marcos administration.

Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte, who had challenged Torre to a fistfight but did not show up on the day of the match, also cited “internal conflict” within the administration.

“That is not happening and that is not what we are seeing,” Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said at a press briefing.

Castro confirmed that Marcos had offered Torre another position in government, but declined to provide details.

She said details about Torre’s potential new role in the administration would be announced once it is finalized and accepted by Torre.

“Because, as we have said, General Torre is a very competent public servant and he can still serve the people,” she said.

“We will provide you the details once it has been finalized and General Torre has accepted it,” Castro said.

Asked about the reason for Torre’s removal, Castro cited issues related to a National Police Commission resolution on police reshuffling, as mentioned by Remulla.

“We just have to respect the wisdom of the President on this matter,” she said.

Castro also responded to views that the “messy transition” could have been prevented had the administration announced the new position for Torre before he was relieved.

“We can’t say that there was a messy transition because they did talk and we know that General Torre understands what happened and he also respects the President’s decision,” she said.–   Helen Flores, Emmanuel Tupas