Several lawmakers in the House of Representatives were baffled by the sudden leadership shakeup at the Philippine National Police (PNP), which saw erstwhile chief Gen. Nicolas Torre III relieved from his duties and replaced by his then second-in-command Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez, Jr.
Mamamayang Liberal Rep. Leila de Lima and Akbayan Rep. Percival Cendaña reacted with surprised after news broke Tuesday that Nartatez replaced Torre as PNP chief, which Malacañang confirmed effective immediately.
“What’s happening?! They better have a good reason in doing that to a very popular, much appreciated and high-performing PNP Chief,” De Lima said, referring to Torre whom President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. appointed to the post only last June.
Cendaña echoed de Lima’s sentiment: “‘Yung mga sangkot sa flood control dapat ang sibakin pero Chief PNP ang tinanggal. Anyare? (Those involved in the anomalous flood control projects are the ones that should have been fired, but it was the PNP Chief who was axed. What happened?)” he said.
The Makabayan Bloc, meanwhile, said the replacement of Torre revealed the “widening crack” in the Marcos administration.
“We consider the sudden removal of PNP Chief Nicolas Torre III after merely 85 days in position as unmistakable evidence of escalating internal conflicts and systemic breakdown within the Marcos administration,” said House Deputy Minority Leader and ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio.
“The continuing reshuffle and internal conflict in the PNP confirms the deepening divide in the Marcos administration. Different groups are vying for power amid rampant government corruption, poor social services, and worsening poverty,” Tinio added.
Assistant Minority Leader and Kabataan Party-list Rep. Renee Louise Co, for her part, said Torre’s open confrontation with the National Police Commission and Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla regarding unauthorized personnel changes exposes serious divisions within the administration’s law enforcement machinery.
“This recent development mirrors the typical behavior of reactionary and authoritarian governments where rival elite factions wage internal battles while ordinary citizens endure worsening public services, escalating costs of living, and persistent human rights abuses,” said Co.
“Simply changing officers will not solve the deep problem of the PNP as a tool of oppression against the people,” she added.
Both Makabayan Bloc lawmakers urged Filipinos “to look past these internal power struggles and concentrate on pressing concerns: justice for human rights victims, holding high officials accountable for massive corruption.”
