Acting Davao Mayor Baste Duterte Asked about the Next PNP Chief
BASTE DUTERTE – The son of former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte made his claims about the next Philippine National Police (PNP) chief following the relief of Nicolas Torre III.
After three (3) months since he was appointed, Nicolas Torre III was recently ordered relieved from his post as the PNP chief by Pres. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. The order was implemented “effective immediately” as per the letter released by Malacañang.
Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin signed the letter by the order of Marcos Jr. In the letter released by the Palace, it was not stated why the President has decided to remove Torre from the lead of the national police. According to Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla, it was simply the decision of Marcos Jr. to take PNP into a new direction.
Remulla also clarified that Torre did not commit a violation of any law. Furthermore, the Interior Secretary also stressed that the relieved PNP Chief has not been charged with any criminal or administrative offense. According to him, the ties between Torre and the Marcos administration has always been great.
The DILG Secretary also claimed hearing that Marcos Jr. is considering to offer another government post for Nicolas Torre III following his relief as PNP chief. However, Remulla denied knowing which position might be offered by the President. He stressed that it still depends on Torre if he will accept the offer.
The relief of Nicolas Torre III as PNP chief earned countless reactions from the Filipinos and left many people shocked. The Filipino populace has witnessed how loyal the former PNP Chief is to the Marcos administration. It was immediately announced that Police Lieutenant General Jose Melencio Nartatez will serve as the PNP chief after the relief of Torre.
Recently, while in The Hague, Netherlands for visitations to his father, former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte, acting Davao Mayor Baste Duterte was asked about Nartatez. Based on a post of ABS-CBN News on social media, during the interview, the younger Duterte denied knowing the OIC PNP Chief.
However, acting Davao Mayor Baste Duterte claimed that anyone who will replace Nicolas Torre III as PNP chief allegedly surely has been ordered to target their family and their supporters. His statement came amid a deep rift between the Marcoses and the Dutertes following their patriarch’s arrest and the transfer of his custody to the International Criminal Court (ICC).
“Hindi ko talaga alam. Hindi ko alam. I do not know these people. Pero, but, for sure, kung may papalit man na chief PNP diyan, may order talaga ‘yan na punteryahin tayo,” Duterte said.
During the interview, acting Davao Mayor Baste Duterte further claimed that one allegedly cannot be a PNP chief without doing anything nonsense to their family or their supporters.
‘Yan naman lagi eh. Hindi ka naman maging chief PNP kapag wala kang gagawing katarantaduhan against sa aming mga Duterte o sa mga supporters natin,” he expressed.
Aside from acting Davao Mayor Baste Duterte, former PNP chief and now Sen. Bato dela Rosa has also spoken on the relief of Nicolas Torre III as PNP chief.