Reports spread like wildfire on the “real” reason a popular Philippine National Police (PNP) chief was relieved of command recently, less than three months at his post.
One supposed reason was Gen. Nicolas Torre III’s refusal to sign a contract for a PHP 8 billion deal to purchase assault rifles for the PNP, reportedly at a huge mark up.
Torre has refused to admit or deny that he blocked the sale.
The PNP is under the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), which is under Sec. Jonvic Remulla, who announced the relief of Torre, which in turn was signed by Executive Sec. Lucas Bersamin.
When asked by local media if the reports were true, Remulla said it was not and that he would be willing to “take a lie detector test.”
He said he was also willing to face a Senate or House inquiry if necessary.
To recall, Remulla’s relief of Torre who has been credited with arresting both Pastor Apollo Quiboloy as well as former president Rodrigo Duterte drew widespread complaints.
Normally, it should have been the President who would announce the relief of such a high-profile official.
Remulla and Malacañang would also announce that Torre would be given another high position in government. In the meantime, Torre remains in active duty when he could have either resigned or opted for early retirement.
Torre was scheduled to retire early next year. His refusal to step aside put the new PNP chief, Jose Melencio Corpuz Nartatez Jr., in an odd situation of remaining a three star general because Torre remains an active four star general.
Torre, meanwhile, admitted to feelers asking if he would take the helm of the National Bureau of Investigation. He said he declined because he is neither a lawyer nor an accountant, which is a requirement for the head of the NBI.
The House of Representatives announced that it would be conducting an investigation on the alleged insertion of the unprogrammed amount in the 2026 national budget.
The House committee on Public Order and Safety will conduct the probe.
The insertion was reportedly at the behest of a son of a DILG undersecretary, according to Manila Rep. Benny Abante.
The PHP 8 billion would have been used to purchase 80,000 units of caliber 5.56 mm basic assault rifles.
Each rifle would have been priced at PHP 100,000 apiece, making it highly overpriced, according to Abante and other firearms experts.
The insertion of the PHP 8 billion could not be found in the final, approved budget for next year.
The supposed undersecretary who requested the insertion is reportedly the son of Executive Sec. Bersamin.
Meanwhile, Torre is also reportedly in the shortlist of Malacañang as to who would comprise the independent commission to be formed by President Marcos Jr. to probe deeper in the scandals involving substandard and ghost projects of the DPWH, which have been blamed for the constant floods in many parts of the country every time it rains.
That commission will also probe other budget anomalies, which would include the aborted deal to purchase overpriced assault rifles.
It is not clear if Torre would be willing to take a new assignment, as he is said to be of the mindset that a government post was only being offered to him to remain silent on the hijinks within the PNP.
