THERE is someone behind the actions of Police Regional Office-11 Director Nicolas Torre III in Davao City.
This is the belief of Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa following the various issues currently in the city. According to the senator, placing SWAT at checkpoints in Davao City is inappropriate.
“I know there are instructions happening. He wouldn’t be this bold to come there and do this right away without instructions. Someone is giving him instructions,” according to Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa.
This is what Senator Bato sees in the actions of Police Regional Office-Davao Chief Nicolas Torre III. This follows Torre’s statement that there is manipulation of the police blotter record in Davao City, hence the low crime rate in the city. Torre said this is also why he ordered the relief of 19 police stations.
In an interview with Banateros on SMNI, Senator Bato said Torre wouldn’t act so boldly and do these things in Davao City without someone giving him orders.
“If you suddenly arrive in Davao, and you’ve never been assigned there before, and you immediately say things like this despite knowing the record of the Davao City Police Office and its Hall of Fame prestige. You know that,” Dela Rosa added.
The senator added that whether Torre denies it or not, he is convinced that someone is pulling the strings behind the new Davao Region Police chief, especially since Torre knows the truth about the good record of Davao City.
“I don’t believe he doesn’t know that. Despite that, his actions and treatment of the unit suggest there are hidden instructions for him to do this. To pressure them. Continue the operations to shake people up. I’m sure there are such instructions. Whether they deny it or not, they can’t fool me,” he stressed.
Davao City Mayor Sebastian Baste Duterte earlier called Torre a ‘professional liar’ due to his maneuvers in the city, causing the relief of 19 police station commanders and disrupting peace in Davao City.
SWAT at checkpoints in Davao City is inappropriate; Police attire is for war—Sen. Bato
Meanwhile, Bato also criticized the placement of PNP Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) at checkpoints in Davao City, particularly in front of the religious compound of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ.
He said this is wrong and there should be administrative accountability if the PNP leadership desires.
“If you’re SWAT, you should be in tactical operations, not conducting checkpoints like that. That kind of attire is for war, it’s tactical uniform.”
“They shouldn’t be dressed like that when conducting checkpoints. You should wear your proper uniform. That’s not right. There should be administrative accountability if their higher-ups desire,” he added.
Following the June 10, 2024 incident where the simultaneous attack by PNP-SAF and CIDG in the KOJC religious compound to serve arrest warrants against Pastor Apollo C. Quiboloy and five others happened, the missionaries of the church have continuously appealed to the government due to police harassment.
Not showing nameplates, faces of police in Davao is dangerous; could be mimicked by criminals—Sen. Bato
In a Senate hearing held on Monday, KOJC narrated again the atrocities committed by PNP-SAF in their religious compound and called for an end to what they claimed as police lies.
Based on KOJC statements, they have been guarding and praying in their compounds day and night because the police harassment continues.
These police officers wear full battle gear, with no nameplates and their faces covered.
Bato criticized this, saying it’s dangerous as it could be mimicked by criminals.
“I investigated a case where the vice mayor in Aparri, Cagayan, was traveling, monitored on his trip, then they were checkpointed by uniformed men in Nueva Vizcaya. They were shot, the mayor, the vice mayor, and their companions, six in the van, all dead. They were in uniform, but they weren’t police. They were criminals.”
“If we allow police to act like this, criminals can easily imitate it,” he expressed.
Meanwhile, Bato added that the PNP’s actions in enforcing the law are also wrong.
“They are only looking for five people with arrest warrants. Why do they have to go against the entire Davao community for five people with arrest warrants? I think that’s a very wrong approach,” he added.
The senator expressed sadness that the long-established trust of the people in Davao in the police seems to be eroding due to the current failed leadership of the PNP.
“I am broken-hearted regarding the relationship between the police and the community of Davao City. It’s a waste of the efforts we made to establish trust and love between the police and the community. It’s a pity,” he ended.
