Religious group troops to Camp Crame to protest Torre’s removal

The Clergy for Good Governance on Thursday gathered at Gate 2 of Camp Crame, Quezon City as the group questioned the abrupt removal of former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police General Nicolas Torre III from the top post.

Clergy for Good Governance convenor Father Robert Reyes said they are praying for the dismissed Torre. 

“Noong siya naging PNP [chief], tumaas ang morale at dangal ng mga kapulisan kasi you have one decent police officer. At kung hindi kay General Torre, nandito pa si Duterte nagpi-people power araw-araw,” Reyes told reporters in an ambush interview.

(When he became PNP chief, the morale and dignity of the police was raised because you have one decent police officer. And if it weren’t for General Torre, Duterte would still be here doing people power every day.)

“Kaya hindi ko maintindihan si [President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.] bakit nagkompromiso na naman siya. Big compromise ito. Mahinang presidente,” he added.

(That’s why I don’t understand why President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. is compromising again. This is a big compromise. He is a weak president.)

In a symbolic gesture, some members of the group smeared ashes on their bodies during their gathering at the gate of PNP headquarters along Col. Bonny Serrano Avenue.

In a letter dated September 2, 2025 to Torre, Reyes told the general that the trust in the institutions is shaken right now and that the ex-PNP chief became “a steady light of hope.”

“You have shown us that integrity in public service is not only possible — it is essential,” Reyes said.

“Through your example, you showed that real strength is found in humility and in doing what is right, especially when it demands personal sacrifice - even when that sacrifice includes stepping away to preserve one's principles,” he added.

Police Lieutenant General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. on August 26 took over the PNP as acting chief after Torre's sudden removal, which was announced the same day.

Torre led the police organization for almost three months after assuming the post last June 2.

Interior and Local Government Jonvic Remulla earlier said one of the reasons Torre was relieved as PNP chief was his defiance to an order of the National Police Commission on the reassignment of key officials.

However, Remulla added that Marcos is considering Torre for an unspecified government position. — Joviland Rita/RF, GMA Integrated News