Torre: Lethal force should be last resort during arrest

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police General Nicolas Torre III said Monday that lethal force should be the last resort in arresting a criminal.
Torre made the statement in his speech during his courtesy visit to the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) in Quezon City.
'Huwag kayong mag-alala yung [sa] sinasabi nating paramihan ng huli. I really don't believe na yan ay maaabuso. Napakalas naman ng loob ng pulis na para lang makahuli ay gagawa ho ng huli. Tapos na ho yun,' Torre said.
(Don't worry about what we're saying about increasing the number of arrests. I really don't believe that will be abused. The police are not that desperate to fabricate an arrest. That is a thing of the past.)
'At dito, ang palagi kong ini-emphasize lethal force will only be used as a last resort. Buhay ang tao. Kaya kapag nag-reklamo sa CHR. Yan magkikita-kita tayo,' he added.
(And here's what I always emphasize: lethal force will only be used as a last resort. The person is alive. So when you complain to the CHR. We will meet each other there.)
Torre cited Article 11 of the Revised Penal Code that covers justifying circumstances and circumstances that exempt from criminal liability.
'Sa aresto, you will take somebody in custody. There is always a possibility that they will fight. So when they fight, papasok ngayon yung Article 11, justifying circumstances, self-defense,' Torre said in an ambush interview.
'Dedepensa ang pulis kung sa kanilang paningin ay endangered sila,' he added.
(The police will defend themselves if they are endangered.)
The PNP chief was responding to the concerns earlier raised by the CHR regarding his statement that the number of arrests will be a factor in the assessment of police officers.
Torre said he will require police officers who conducted warrantless arrest to submit affidavits of arrest, which will be the basis for their promotions.
'Iisa ang proseso sa arrest without warrant. Dadalhin natin sa inquest....Number one document na kailangan para sa inquest which is defined as a summary proceedings conducted by a prosecutor to determine whether a person arrested without a warrant should remain in custody,' he said.
(The process for arrest without a warrant is the same. We will take someone to inquest proceedings....This is the number one document needed for an inquest which is defined as a summary proceedings conducted by a prosecutor to determine whether a person arrested without a warrant should remain in custody.)
'Kaya karamihan ng affidavit of arrest ang aking batayan dahil yan ang pinakanakakatakot na trabaho ng pulis,' he added.
(So mostly, affidavits of arrest are my basis because that is the most feared job of the police.)
According to Torre, if police officers committed a violation or gave a wrong testimony, they will face punishment such as dismissal from the service and suspension from their posts.
First courtesy visit by a PNP chief
CHR chairperson Richard Palpal-latoc said Torre is the first PNP chief to pay a courtesy visit to the Commission.
'Buong puso naming binabati si Police General Nicolas Torre III sa kanyang panunungkulan bilang bagong chief ng PNP. Welcome po sa CHR. Makasaysayan yung pagdalaw niyo rito. Kauna-unahan ho yatang dumalaw ang Chief PNP sa Komisyon,' he said.
(We wholeheartedly congratulate Police General Nicolas Torre III on his post as the new chief of the PNP. Welcome to the CHR. Your visit here is historic. It is the first time that the Chief PNP has visited the Commission.)
Palpal-latoc said Torre's visit will improve the coordination between the CHR and PNP. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

GMA Network

19 hours ago

• GMA Network

DA, PNP boost anti-smuggling campaign

The Department of Agriculture (DA) is intensifying its anti-smuggling campaign after discovering the sale of suspected smuggled onions in Paco Market in Manila. On Wednesday, Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. said the DA will partner with the Philippine National Police (PNP) for the crackdown against smuggled agricultural products they discovered smuggled onions being sold in the market. The imported red onions are larger and cleaner than local varieties. It also surfaced in markets despite the absence of import permits, he added. 'We did not give any permits to anybody since early this year. Lahat ng imported onions sa lahat ng palengke ay smuggled iyan,' said Laurel Jr. 'It's the directive of President Bongbong Marcos to stop smuggling—that's why we now have this law,' he said. The DA will conduct lab testing of seized onions to ensure they are not a public health threat. Previous inspections found traces of E. coli and heavy metals in smuggled white onions. 'But of course, our target remains the so-called 'big fish.' We will raid warehouses with the help of the PNP,' said Tiu Laurel. Meanwhile, the DA said they are also eyeing to train police officers to distinguish between locally produced and imported agricultural products, including pork, as part of efforts to strengthen the government's anti-smuggling campaign. In October 2024, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed Republic Act No. 12022 into law, which repeals the 2016 Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act and introduces tougher, more comprehensive enforcement mechanisms.—VAL, GMA Integrated News

GMA Network

20 hours ago

• GMA Network

CHR calls for more legal protection for media workers

The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) on Friday called on the government to provide more legal protection for media workers "to ensure press freedom, dissent, and civic participation." "CHR urges the Philippine government to act on the need to enhance the country's legal framework, including proposed legislation such as the Media Workers' Welfare Bill and Journalist Protection Bill, as well as existing mechanisms like Administrative Order No. 35 (creating an inter-agency task force on extrajudicial killings) and Executive Order No. 31, the decriminalization of libel, and a re-examination of key provisions of the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020," the CHR said in a statement. The CHR issued the statement after UN Special Rapporteur on the Promotion and Protection of the Right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression Irene Khan urged the Philippine government to ratify international human rights treaties and restore its past ratification of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. "The findings and recommendations of the Special Rapporteur align with the vision of a democratic society where every Filipino can participate in a healthy ecosystem of truthful information," added the CHR. The CHR also said there is a need to further strengthen the implementation of the Philippine Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists, as well as expand the mandate of the Presidential Task Force on Media Security. On the international level, CHR echoed Khan's call for the Philippines to ratify the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance and to reaccede to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. "Every Filipino's right to freedom of expression and opinion is inherently linked to access to diverse sources of information, protection from threats, and meaningful participation in public life. As such, CHR remains firm in its stand that while the Philippines has seen improvements in this area, there remains a clear need for fundamental reforms to ensure that the free flow of information remains central to the country's democracy," the CHR added. Likewise, the CHR echoed the Special Rapporteur's deep concern over the continued occurrences of red-tagging, persisting cases of enforced disappearances and media killings, incidents of arbitrary detention, and the vilification of human rights defenders. Meanwhile, the CHR also welcomed Khan's recommendation to strengthen the independence of the Commission through the passage of the CHR Charter Bill. CHR hopes that the recommendations set forth by the Special Rapporteur will reinforce the foundations already established toward fostering a safer environment for all Filipinos," said CHR. —VAL, GMA Integrated News

GMA Network

3 days ago

• GMA Network

P104.7M worth of floating shabu found in Cagayan waters — PDEA

Authorities have intercepted another wave of floating illegal drugs off the coast of Cagayan, with the latest haul of methamphetamine hydrochloride, or shabu, amounting to over P104.7 million in street value. According to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), a sack containing 15 plastic packs of suspected shabu—roughly 15 kilograms and valued at ?102 million—was discovered on June 16 between the territorial waters of Babuyan Island and Gonzaga, Cagayan. The following day, June 17, a separate 400-gram package of the same substance, worth ?2.72 million, was found floating between Camiguin Island and Cape Engaño in Barangay San Vicente, Sta. Ana, Cagayan. The illegal drugs were turned over to combined personnel from PDEA Regional Office II (RO 2) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) Regional Office 2 (PRO 2) by concerned local fisherfolk who found them at sea. 'The honest acts of fishermen, the prompt response and proper turnover of the floating contraband to authorities, and the steady sea surveillance and patrolling, are all part of a holistic approach to curb the flow of illegal drugs in the coastal areas of Cagayan Province,' said PDEA Director General and Undersecretary Isagani R. Nerez. "We do not want these dangerous substances to fall into the clutches of the wrong people.' Undersecretary Nerez highlighted the role of the PNP's 'Project: SPIES' — Strengthening Port Interdiction to Enhance Security — a security initiative led by the Cagayan Police Provincial Office under Police Brigadier General Antonio Marallag Jr. The project focuses on securing maritime borders and ports against drug trafficking. 'We cannot simply overlook the value of the contribution of Project: SPIES and its implementing police officers,' Nerez emphasized. 'In tandem with PDEA, they have provided much heightened vigilance and increased law enforcement efforts on the lookout for the remaining floating contraband.' So far, all floating drug recovery incidents have occurred in the waters of Luzon. Authorities believe the drugs were offloaded at sea and meant to be collected by designated recipients. 'An in-depth investigation is currently underway to determine the place of origin of the recovered shabu,' Nerez said, noting that ocean currents may have pushed the contraband into Philippine waters. Ilocos Norte In a related incident, a kilo of shabu worth ?6.8 million was found by a resident along the shoreline of Barangay Pasaleng in Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte on June 17. The package was also turned over to local authorities. PDEA continues to appeal to the public for cooperation. "If and when you stumble upon any of the floating contraband, do not hesitate to report it to the authorities. Doing so will help shield our communities from the sinister ways of illegal drugs,' Nerez urged. The agency also reminded the public that possession of prohibited drugs, regardless of intention, is punishable under Philippine law. — Sherilyn Untalan/RSJ, GMA Integrated News