A whisper of doubt turned into a roar of controversy as Vice President Sara Duterte blasted the appointment of Maj. Gen. Nicolas Torre III as the new chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP). Calling the decision “too sketchy,” she pointed to a Senate investigation that raised serious concerns about Torre’s role in her father’s arrest.
Speaking in The Hague, where she was visiting her detained father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, Sara let out a sharp laugh when asked about Torre’s new role. “That’s my reaction,” she said, her amusement fading fast. “But seriously, why would you make him chief of police? That decision is way too sketchy.”
The “sketchiness” comes from a Senate probe, led by a close ally of her father, which uncovered possible legal violations during Torre’s handling of the former president’s arrest. Torre, now leading the PNP, was the officer who carried out the high-stakes operation that sent Rodrigo Duterte to the International Criminal Court.
Duterte didn’t stop there. She compared Torre’s appointment to another controversial pick: the rise of Leyte’s Martin Romualdez to House Speaker. She argued Romualdez shouldn’t lead the House because of his alleged ties to a bribery case in the United States. “It’s the same thing,” she said, her voice firm. “You’re putting someone in charge when there are big questions about their actions.”
When asked what Torre’s leadership might mean for the country, Duterte was blunt: “Well, I don’t think our country will become any better or improve because of this.” Her words, spoken with the weight of a vice president and a daughter, hit hard.
The decision to appoint Torre has split opinions. Some praise the move, pointing to his plans to cut emergency response times to three minutes and bring new tech to the police force. But others, like Duterte, see it as a risky choice that could erode trust, especially given the Senate’s findings.
The arrest of Rodrigo Duterte, led by Torre, remains a sore point. It was a moment that shook the nation, and now, with Torre in charge of the PNP, the wounds are reopening. The Duterte family’s feud with the current administration only adds fuel to the fire.
This appointment has sparked more than debate—it’s ignited a political storm. Will Torre’s leadership steady the PNP, or will it deepen the divide in an already tense nation? The answer is coming, and it’s sure to be loud.
