EXECUTIVE SECRETARY LUCAS Bersamin’s resignation (or should we say ouster) on Monday night and the surprisingly ready acceptance by President Marcos Jr. made people recall the abrupt relief of Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Gen. Nicolas Torre, “whose principle stands against questionable procurement may have cost him his post.”
Bersamin’s departure from the lofty ‘little president’ post—alongside Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman—has reignited scrutiny over alleged internal maneuverings within the Marcos Jr. administration.
A post said: “While the Palace cites ‘delicadeza’ in light of corruption allegations tied to flood control projects, whispers within government circles suggest deeper fissures, particularly involving the controversial ouster of former PNP Chief Nicolas Torre.”
Gen. Torre’s ouster from PNP was first published in The PH Insider (https://thephinsider.net/relieved-for-rejecting-p8b-budget-insertion/). While the PNP, Napolcom and the Palace came out with separate statements denying the failed bid to insert no less than P80 billion in the 2026 national budget, the issue kept resurfacing in other mainstream papers, broadcast and social media.
As we have reported, Torre’s refusal to sign a funding request for firearms procurement triggered a chain of retaliation.
Taking cue from documents obtained by The PH Insider, Torre’s removal is more like “insurbordination” after he refused to affix his signature on an “accomplished request” for an P8-billion funding for an arms procurement deal.
The request – if Torre agreed to affix his signature – would have been brought to House Speaker Martin Romualdez who wields the power to include (if not insert) P8 billion in the PNP’s 2026 budget.
According to sources, Torre earned the ire of Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla for refusing to obey orders.
Hence, Torre’s 85-day stint as the country’s top cop has become the shortest since the creation of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in 1991. He took over the reins from twice extended (retired) Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil, the 30th chief of PNP.
Torre refused to sign the document because PNP, he explained, is a civilian agency and buying 80,000 units of 5.56mm assault rifles is something that should be a concern of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
The request, reportedly backed by Adrian Bersamin (son of ES Bersamin) who was then DILG Undersecretary, allegedly had familial ties to the firearm supplier. Torre’s resistance—grounded in ethical concerns and procedural integrity—may have disrupted a lucrative arrangement, prompting alleged pressure from ES Bersamin and DILG Secretary Remulla to remove him from his post.
If these accounts hold weight, Torre’s removal was not a matter of performance but of principle. His stance against questionable procurement practices, especially those with potential conflicts of interest, reflects a commitment to transparency and accountability—values that should be foundational in law enforcement leadership.
The timing of Bersamin’s resignation, now followed by Ralph Recto’s appointment, lends credence to the notion that internal power struggles and ethical breaches may have finally reached a tipping point, the post on Meta (nee Facebook) noted.
This episode underscores a troubling pattern: whistleblowers and principled officials often face retaliation, while opaque dealings flourish under the guise of bureaucratic discretion.
Torre’s vindication, albeit belated, should serve as a rallying point for reform-minded officials within the PNP and beyond. It also raises urgent questions about the role of familial influence in government procurement and the need for stricter safeguards against nepotism and cronyism.
In the wake of this shake-up, the public deserves clarity. Was Torre punished for doing the right thing? Were procurement decisions compromised by personal interests? And will the new Executive Secretary rectify these lapses or perpetuate them under a different name?
The answers to these questions will determine whether this Cabinet revamp is a genuine reset—or merely a reshuffling of the same entrenched interests.