CEBU, Philippines — In 2017, The Samar Provincial Board has declared Senior Superintendent Nicholas Torre III, director of the Samar Police Provincial Office (SPPO), persona non grata in Calbayog City. The decision came after a 6-3 vote, with one abstention, citing concerns over his alleged political bias and failure to address rising criminality in the area.
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The resolution, approved during a session presided over by Vice Mayor Diego Rivera, was authored by Councilor Rey James Uy. It will be forwarded to President Rodrigo Duterte and PNP Chief Director General Oscar Albayalde, urging Torre’s removal from his post.
The resolution accuses Torre of engaging in partisan political activity, allegedly providing police services favoring a particular political figure in Samar. Additionally, it criticizes his handling of public safety, citing an increase in violent crimes and failure to arrest identified criminals threatening the city’s residents.
Among the incidents mentioned were the recent brutal killing in Barangay Catabunan, Oquendo District, and the beheading of a farmer in Barangay San Jose. The resolution also highlighted the persistent threats and intimidation from armed groups in the Happy Valley area, as well as the growing number of unsolved crimes across Calbayog.
The move to declare Torre persona non grata gained strong backing from Calbayog Mayor Ronaldo Aquino, who earlier endorsed the resolution. Aquino described it as a necessary step to inform the national government and police leadership about the worsening peace and order situation in the city.“
The people of Calbayog City have lost trust and confidence in Torre’s leadership,” the resolution stated, citing the police’s inability to curb crime and maintain order.
The resolution was supported by Councilors Charlito Coñejos, Rosalia Chuca, Sylvan Joseph Ayong, Billy Martires, and Cesar Sabenecio. Opposing the move were Councilors Jeffrey Bernate, Minda Pasacas, and ABC President Fernando Gaspan, while Councilor Aquilina Sabi abstained. Three other councilors were absent during the vote.
When asked about the resolution, Torre stated that neither the Police Regional Office-8 nor his office had received an official copy of the declaration. He dismissed the accusations and warned that he might file cases with the Ombudsman against the city council members if they failed to prove their claims.
"I will take legal action if they cannot substantiate their allegations,” Torre said in an interview with The Freeman.
With the resolution now set to reach national leaders, the fate of Calbayog’s police leadership remains uncertain, as tensions between local officials and law enforcement continue to rise.
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Source: Philstar
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