THE recent case filed against Criminal Investigation and Detection Group Director PMGen. Nicolas Torre III has raised more questions than answers.
Accused alongside nine other officers of illegally detaining a businesswoman over a week in November 2024, Torre now finds himself in the eye of a political storm.
His response is telling: he doesn’t rule out the possibility that the complaint is politically motivated, especially with Philippine National Police Chief Gen. Rommel Marbil set to retire on June 12.
In a system where leadership changes can shift power dynamics, Torre’s suspicion carries weight.
It’s not uncommon for internal rivalries to surface as allegations or cases when a transition in leadership is near. The PNP, as a key law enforcement institution, is no stranger to such power plays.
Torre’s implication of political maneuvering reflects a deeper issue — the entanglement of institutional processes with personal and factional interests.
Whether this case is a genuine grievance or a calculated move, its timing raises red flags.
Adding to the complexity, Torre highlights that the complainant, Rotchelle Calle, previously sought CIDG’s help in arresting her business partner, the same man whose case supposedly led to her alleged illegal detention.
If Torre’s version is accurate, the CIDG acted on her request before she turned around and accused them. It’s a perplexing shift that demands scrutiny.
Calle’s reported political alignment with former President Rodrigo Duterte only thickens the plot, especially given Torre’s role during Duterte’s arrest.
In the end, whether this is about justice or jockeying for position within the PNP hierarchy, the incident exposes a critical need for transparency and accountability.
As leadership changes loom, the organization must ensure that its officers are protected from unfounded accusations — yet also held to the highest standard when due process is genuinely breached.
Politics should not be allowed to weaponize the justice system, especially within institutions sworn to uphold it.
