Acting Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte offered no comment on the appointment of General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. as the new chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), replacing Gen. Nicholas Torre III. However, he boldly stated that if there is a new PNP chief appointed, he definitely has orders to target the Dutertes and their supporters.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. sacked Torre on Tuesday and appointed Nartatez as the 32nd Chief PNP.
“I don’t know these people. But I’m sure kung may ipapalit man na chief PNP diyan, may order talaga yan na puntiryahin tayo. Ganyan naman lagi. Hindi ka naman maging chief PNP kung wala kang gagawing katarantaduhan against sa aming mga Duterte or sa mga supporters namin,” Duterte said during an interview in The Hague, Netherlands.
In March this year, Torre led the team that handcuffed former President Rodrigo Duterte and sent to the International Criminal Court (ICC) for charges against humanity in line with his campaign against illegal drugs during his administration.
When Torre was appointed as director of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in May this year, he was rumored to lead raid operations in the residence of the Dutertes in Davao City, particularly the house of the former president at Doña Luisa Subdivision in Matina, Davao City.
Last month, Torre challenged the young Duterte to a “charity boxing match” scheduled while the acting mayor was in Singapore with his family.
Meanwhile, Duterte is firm that the sacking of Torre signified that the former PNP chief was demoted.
“Wala rin akong pakialam sa tao na yan,” he said.
Duterte also did not believe that Torre would be given a government post, contrary to reporters that the latter would be appointed as secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) or director of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).
Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla announced that Marcos is considering Torre for another position in government.
“Kung naging chief PNP ka na, tingin ko demoted talaga siya because wala ng mas mataas pa diyan sa pagka pulis mo. Hindi ka naman puwedeng ilagay sa ibang appointed position like NBI,” he said.
Duterte added that he thinks “internal conflict” was the reason for the dismissal of Torre.
“Demoted siya sa tingin ko may problema, internal conflict talaga na nangyari diyan. Internal conflict yan. Hindi din naman clear ang statement ng Malacañang kung bakit siya tinanggal,” he said.
