Under the leadership of the newly installed Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, PGen. Nicolas Torre III, the police organization will use the number of criminals apprehended as a benchmark for police performance.
In his first media appearance as PNP chief, Torre said he would incorporate arrest numbers into police performance metrics as part of intensified efforts to ensure community safety.
Torre also intends to instruct the PNP Legal Service to ensure a higher success rate in court cases as a means of defending police officers who are fulfilling their duties.
He made the remarks while emphasizing that the initiative will be carried out in accordance with human rights principles, and safeguards will be in place to prevent abuse.
Starting today, Torre has officially assumed office as the 31st Chief of the PNP, succeeding PGen. Rommel Francisco Marbil, whose term was extended prior to Torre’s appointment.
A member of the ‘Tagapaglunsad’ Class of 1993, Torre is the first PNP Academy graduate to be appointed as the country’s top cop.
He previously served as Director of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) and held leadership posts in the Davao Region, Quezon City, and Samar province.
Among the high-profile cases that brought Torre into the spotlight was his leadership in apprehending notable figures like former President Rodrigo Duterte and religious leader Pastor Apollo Quiboloy.
During a ceremony at Camp Crame, the general presented the three key pillars that will shape his leadership of the police force.
Among these are the commitment to a three-minute response time in urban areas, fostering unity among personnel, and emphasizing accountability and modernization within the PNP.
“The 3-minute response will really focus on the city centers, ‘yung mga urban. Kasi ang 3-minute response ang essence kasi niyan is fast response 24-hours a day," Torre clarified during the press briefing.
"Ang city centers lang naman ang gising ng 24-oras. Natural iba ang kultura sa citiy center, iba ang kultural sa rural areas," he added.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., as part of his marching orders to the new PNP Chief, directed that the public must feel secure and safe on the streets, and that emerging security challenges—which are now transnational and extend into the cyber domain—be effectively addressed.
