“Karma?” VP Sara Duterte on Torre’s Removal as PNP Chief

"Diyos lang naman kasi talaga ang makakapagsabi kung ano yung karapat-dapat para sa isang tao.”

Vice President Sara Duterte has commented on the removal of Police General Nicolas Torre III as chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP)—the same officer who previously oversaw the arrest of her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte.

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When asked for her reaction, the Vice President said she was uncertain whether Torre’s removal could be considered “karma,” noting instead that it might simply be part of his “life’s journey.”

"Hindi ko kasi masabi kung karma ba yun o hindi eh," she explained.

"Sometimes nandoon ka sa taas, and then 85 days later, nandoon ka sa baba,” Duterte said.

Duterte is currently in The Hague, Netherlands, where she is visiting her father.

As former head of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), Torre led the arrest of the elder Duterte, who was eventually transported to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in March. Before the former president was flown to the Netherlands, Torre disclosed that he had denied Vice President Duterte’s request to see her father, saying the visit would only be possible once he was placed in a detention facility in The Hague.

Torre, while serving as Police Regional Office 11 chief, also directed the arrest of Duterte ally and Kingdom of Jesus Christ leader Apollo Quiboloy in Davao City last year over human trafficking and sexual exploitation charges.

Vice President Duterte had earlier expressed misgivings about Torre’s appointment as PNP chief in June, calling the decision “too sketchy.”

Torre has since been replaced by Police Lieutenant General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) earlier dismissed claims that Torre’s removal was linked to his supposed rejection of a firearms procurement proposal from Secretary Jonvic Remulla.

Remulla, however, later explained that one of the reasons behind Torre’s relief was his refusal to comply with a National Police Commission directive regarding the reassignment of key officials. He added that President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. is considering Torre for another government post.

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