Baste says Torre jumped over senior generals, PNP chief says so did Bato

Newly installed Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police General Nicolas Torre III on Wednesday responded to Davao City vice mayor-elect Sebastian Duterte who questioned his appointment and promotion.

At a press briefing, Torre said Baste should take a “rewind” to the time when his father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, appointed now Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa as his first PNP chief in 2016.

At the time, Dela Rosa was a police chief superintendent (one-star) promoted to police director general (four-star), which is three ranks higher.

“Okay. I just respect his decision and I respect his opinion. And rewind-rewind lang nang kaunti sa termino naman ng tatay niya kung sino ang unang chief PNP, okay.

“Ano ang ranggo ng unang chief PNP [ng tatay niya] at ano ang ranggo ko bago ako naging Chief PNP? (What was the rank of the first chief PNP of his father and what was my rank before becoming chief PNP.) So, it really goes back to him really. Seriously speaking it goes back to him, okay. The first Chief PNP of his father is a one-star na naging automatic four-star. Did he ask that? Did he question that?” he added.

Torre was promoted from police major general (two-star) to police general (four-star), which is two ranks higher, when he was appointed by President Ferdinand “Bongbing”Marcos Jr. as PNP chief on Monday.

In a gathering during the birthday celebration of her sister, Vice President Sara Duterte on Saturday in The Hague in Netherlands, Baste criticized Torre’s appointment, saying it was not merit-based but favor-based.

The Duterte patriarch is detained in The Hague over crimes against humanity charges.

“Government ngayon is not based on merit but tingnan niyo ano nangyari. You have a chief PNP na tatlong ranggo ang tinalunan para maging chief PNP. It's because this is not merit-based promotion. Pabor-pabor-based promotion,” Baste said.

(Government now is not based on merit but look what happened. You have a chief PNP who jumped three ranks to become chief PNP. It's because this is not merit-based promotion. This is favor-favor-based promotion.)

“Nobody in their right mind would do what he did, yung sinakay niya si PRRD sa eroplano, because he is a police officer. He knows the due process. Kung nag-iisip talaga yun, kung sakto yung utak niyan. Tignan mo bagsak sa [neuropsychiatric exam] yan, sigurado ako,” he added.

(Nobody in their right mind would do what he did, when he put PRRD on the plane, because he is a police officer. He knows the due process. If he is really thinking, if his brain is on the right track. Watch, he will fail a neuropsychiatric exam, I'm sure.)

Torre as Criminal Investigation and Detection Group chief led the arrest of Duterte and his transport to the International Criminal Court in The Hague on March 11 to face the crimes against humanity case in connection with his administration’s war on drugs.

Meanwhile, Torre was also asked about Sara’s criticism that he was appointed even though there are alleged violations committed during the arrest of her father.

“Again, I respect the opinion of the Vice President and the opinion of everyone regarding the things we’ve done during the arrest of Mr. Duterte and his eventual transfer to The Hague,” Torre said.

“The findings of the Senate Committee is still within the Ombudsman and the Senate committee is not a disciplinary machinery nor a court that can say if who is right and who is wrong; who is guilty and not guilty. So, I think we will answer all those things in the proper forum,” he added. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News