IT pays to be bold and daring — just like the 54-year old police general who went hands on just to make sure former president Rodrigo Duterte gets arrested and flown to The Hague to face charges arising from a drug war that saw thousands extinguished.
In a press briefing in Malacanang, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin announced the appointment of Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) chief Major General Nicolas Torre III as the country’s top cop replacing General Rommel Marbil, whose extended term is set to expire on June 7.
However, the turnover would take place even before June 7, the supposed date that Marbil will officially step down.
”The turnover of command will happen June 2nd,” said Bersamin on the assumption of the first non-PMA graduate to be designated to the post.
MARCOS’ DISCRETION
He declined to elaborate on the President’s basis in naming Torre, even as he gave a premium on the President’s discretion.
”Wala akong maibigay na detalye diyan ano? You know the appointment of the officers of the PNP, they are to be kept confidential. We should respect that confidentiality,” Marcos’ top lieutenant averred.
“But it’s the President’s discretion which I consider to be absolute. No one can question that use of discretion,” he added.
NOT A REWARD
Aside from arresting Duterte, Torre also led the capture of Kingdom of Jesus Christ founder Apollo Quiboloy on September 8, 2024 in Davao City over charges of human trafficking and sexual exploitation of minors.
When asked whether or not the President’s choice has something to do with the arrest of the two most powerful individuals in recent years,, Bersamin said that Torre’s appointment was the result of the major operations he carried out.
”I’m not going to discount that. But maybe there are other qualities of General Torre that he (Marcos) might have considered.”