[Rear View] Will ‘rock star’ Torre provide another in 2028?

Common Torre’s dismissal raises questions on corruption and integrity within the Marcos administration, as whispers of a controversial P8-billion firearms deal emerge

The circumstances surrounding the sudden removing of Common Nicolas Torre III as chief of the Philippine Nationwide Police (PNP) continues to rankle, insinuating itself into the continued nationwide dialog on high-level corruption in authorities initiatives. 

The official line is that Torre was insubordinate. He disobeyed an order from the Nationwide Police Fee (Napolcom)  to reinstate senior police officers he had transferred as a part of a reorganization. Considered one of them was the presumed successor to former nationwide police chief Rommel Marbil, whom Torre had changed. (This senior police official, recognized to be near Senator Imee Marcos, has been named as Torre’s substitute on the PNP).

If my reminiscence hasn’t absolutely failed me, that is the primary time because the creation of the PNP that the Napolcom has intervened in its reorganization, a prerogative historically given to a newly-installed nationwide police chief. Conflicting interpretations on the extent of Napolcom’s authority have since surfaced. 

After basking in Torre’s halo — the Sulu-born common led a large operation that led to the seize of fugitive pastor and Duterte ally Apollo Quiboloy, hauled off former president Rodrigo Duterte to a ready jet sure for the Hague, and made the goon-mayor of Davao Metropolis a laughing inventory — the President, reportedly on the urging of the inside secretary, kicked him out.

Irrespective of how a lot he values Torre, or how a lot worth Torre brings to the administration, the President can’t be seen as condoning insubordination because it reinforces the “weak chief” framing of the Duterte hordes.

Leaked firearms deal doc

Because the story of his dismissal unfolded, an internet put up started to flow into detailing a supposed P8-billion firearms buy being pushed by sure well-connected personalities. Torre was reportedly instructed to advocate it, however he refused. 

The put up, full with screenshots, supplied juicy particulars that added a contact of credibility, sufficient to immediate the Division of the Inside and Native Authorities (DILG) to problem an announcement denying the allegations, however solely to the extent that Torre was not sacked due to his refusal to advocate the acquisition. 

Had it not been for this on-line put up, we’d not have recognized concerning the supposedly unsolicited proposal, curiously offered as a requisition request written on a PNP letterhead to be signed by Torre. 

By responding to the web put up, the DILG gave the story legs. And if even a part of it’s true, it provides an added dimension to the Torre persona. The place of PNP chief has all the time been considered that of a pliable factotum. However Torre refused to play the sport. His refusal to endorse the P8 billion firearms buy, if true, offers us another excuse to admire him. Integrity. 

The PNP has all the time been an establishment mired in controversy over soiled cops, inefficiency, operational blunders, and corruption. The Duterte administration reworked your entire police group into a military of executioners, implementors of a bloody however pointless drug battle focusing on the poor. Rating law enforcement officials have been uncovered as protectors of drug syndicates or concerned in drug recycling. It’s not a picture downside. It’s systemic. And for many observers, a management really devoted to reforms is the one hope for institutional redemption. Torre supplied that hope. 

Token provide

The Palace has confirmed that Torre shall be supplied a authorities place. However accepting a place would require Torre to surrender his four-star rank. In the meanwhile, he doesn’t appear inclined to turn out to be a civilian.

Apart from, Torre must be cautious of any provide from the Marcos administration. At greatest, it might be a token appointment, an empty act meant to appease the previous police chief and his rising variety of supporters. Rejoining the administration will profit the President greater than Torre; the President is ready to save face, and with the previous police chief heading a hypothetical anti-corruption process drive, reboot his newly-minted picture as a corruption buster. 

This administration turned him into an in a single day rock star. And Torre the rejected rock star ought to keep away from rejoining the BBM label. 

A portfolio the place expectations are excessive units up Torre to fail. It can additionally check his tolerance for the backroom offers which are the norm in authorities. If we settle for the failed firearms deal story, Torre doesn’t play that sport.

What about 2028?

Torre might resolve to experience into the sundown, however that might be a disgrace. I hope he doesn’t. 

Torre captured the creativeness of the general public by displaying uncooked braveness packaged in an amiable character. He’s the person of the second: a person of integrity, trustworthy to the legislation, mission oriented, combat-hardened, powerful and never powerful speaking and puro porma just like the Dutertes. He’s the other of the Vice President. And Torre is a Mindanaoan who can break the stable maintain of the Dutertes on the southern vote.

The Duterte hordes and energy brokers throughout the administration might have eliminated a thorn, however the nation gained another for 2028. Will Torre ignore the chance? – Rappler.com

Joey Salgado is a former journalist, and a authorities and political communications practitioner. He served as spokesperson for former vp Jejomar Binay.