MANILA, Philippines – Si Torre ay kumilos nang “beyond his authority” sa pamamagitan ng unilateral na pagpapaalis sa kanyang pangalawang-in-command na si Police Lieutenant General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr, ayon kay Sen. Panfilo Lacson, na nagsilbi din bilang hepe ng Philippine National Police (PNP) mula 1999 hanggang 2001.
Sa isang pahayag nitong Martes, ipinaliwanag ni Lacson na ang pagtatalaga at pag-relieve ng mga miyembro ng PNP command group, kabilang ang Deputy for Administration, Deputy for Operations, at Chief Directorial Staff ay dapat na normal na ma-clear sa Pangulo o hindi bababa sa ex-officio Chairman ng National Police Commission (Napolcom), at ng Secretary of the Interior and Local Government.
“Torre acted beyond his authority of unilaterally relieving his second-in-command, Nartatez,” saad ni Lacson.
“Even when former President Joseph Estrada gave me the blanket authority to run and manage the PNP during my time as chief PNP, I did not exercise absolute authority over the designations of the members of the Command Group,” dagdag niya.
Ayon pa kay Lacson na ang pag-alis kay Torre ay ang tanging karapatan ni Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
“What is important at this point is a smooth transition and transfer of command and authority so as not to hamper the overall mission of the PNP to continue maintaining peace and order for the benefit of the people whom they have sworn to serve and protect,” ani Lacson.
Noong Agosto, si Nartatez, na humahawak sa ikalawang pinakamataas na posisyon ng PNP, ay itinalagang mamuno sa Area Police Command Western Mindanao. RNT/MND
