Statement of Acting Davao Mayor Baste Duterte on Relief of Nicolas Torre III as PNP Chief
BASTE DUTERTE – The acting Davao City Mayor believes that Nicolas Torre is allegedly “demoted” following his relief as the Philippine National Police (PNP) chief.
The order of President Bongbong Marcos to relieve Nicolas Torre III from his post as PNP chief elicited several different reactions from the people. There are those who are against it while there are also those who were left happy by the decision of the President.
Marcos Jr.’s order was made known to the public through a letter signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin. It was not stated why the President ordered for the relief of Torre who he appointed to lead the national police just in may.
Torre had a very short stint as the PNP chief. Amid the issue, former senator and now Mamamayang Liberal party-list Representative Leila de Lima reacted to the removal of Nicolas Torre III as PNP chief. According to her, the administration must have a better reason for removing a “high performing” PNP chief from the position.
On the part of the Duterte supporters, many of them felt relief over the relief of Torre from the PNP lead. Recently, acting Davao Mayor Baste Duterte was asked about his side on the matter. The son of former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte is currently in The Hague, Netherlands to visit his father.
Torre played a significant role in the arrest and the transfer of the custody of former Pres. Duterte to the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands. He was one of the authorities who led the transfer of the former President’s custody to the ICC by allegedly “forcing” him to board a plane to Dubai en route for The Hague.
Duterte is detained inside the ICC detention facility in The Hague for more than five (5) months now. According to acting Davao Mayor Baste Duterte, he has not told his father about the relief of Nicolas Torre III as the PNP chief.
Based on a post of ABS-CBN News on social media, during an interview, acting Davao Mayor Baste Duterte stressed that he really does not care about Nicolas Torre III. The acting Davao Mayor was asked if he believes that Torre’s removal from office might be a “diversionary tactic”.
“Hindi ko talaga alam. Pero, no, hindi talaga. Kasi kung naging chief PNP ka na, tingin ko demoted talaga siya kasi wala nang mas mataas pa diyan eh sa pagka-pulis mo, ‘di ba?” the younger Duterte said.
Acting Davao Mayor Baste Duterte also expressed his belief that there might be an internal conflict that led to Nicolas Torre III being allegedly “demoted” from being the PNP chief. During the interview, he stressed that the Palace’s statement was allegedly unclear.
“Hindi ka na man pwedeng ilagay sa ibang ano, appointed position, NBI. Demoted siya so tingin ko may internal conflict talaga na nangyari diyan… Hindi naman din clear ‘yung statement ng Malacañang kung bakit siya tinanggal,” acting Davao Mayor Baste Duterte said.
Amid the issue, Jonvic Remulla, the secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government or DILG, revealed that Marcos Jr. is allegedly considering to offer another government post for relieved PNP chief Nicolas Torre III.