DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 16 June) — Newly-installed Davao Region police chief Nicolas Torre III vowed to address the “unfinished business” of his office, including the controversial police operations at the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) properties to serve the warrant of arrest on fugitive Pastor Apollo C. Quiboloy last June 10.
“We are aware of the challenges that we’ll be (facing) here, hindi ko pwedeng i-sugarcoat ang mga issues na ating nasaksihan noong isang lingo” (I cannot sugarcoat the issues we witnessed here last week), Brig. Gen. Torre said in a speech during his assumption as chief of the Police Regional Office -XI in Camp Rolindo Soguilon in Catitipan on Sunday.
Newly-installed Police regional director, Brig. Gen. Nicolas Torre III at the assumption of post on Sunday, 16 June 2024 at Camp Rolindo Soguilon in Catitipan, Datvao City. MindaNews photo by IAN CARL ESPINOSA
Asked by reporters which issues he will prioritize under his watch and how he will deal with them, Torre said he has yet to receive orders from Philippine National Police chief Rommel Marbil.
“Right now, I am waiting for specific instructions,” Torre said.
Last week, PRO forces from Region 11, 12, and 13 together with troops from the Philippine National Police’s elite Special Action Force and other troops stormed the KOJC properties to arrest Quiboloy. Quiboloy was nowhere to be found.
Former President Rodrigo Duterte, who was appointed administrator of properties of the KOJC in March after Quiboloy went into hiding, described the operations as “overkill.”
Polibe Brig. Gen. Aligre Martinez was relieved from his post.
Martinez took over as PRO 11 regional director on April 25, replacing then retiring Brigadier General Alden Delvo. He was relieved after 49 days, following the controversial police operations against Quiboloy.
Torre submitted a courtesy resignation from his Quezon City Police District (QCPD) post to then PNP Chief General Benjamin Acorda Jr. in October 2023 amid a backlash after holding a press conference with a dismissed policeman who was involved in a road rage case.
Before his assignment to PRO-11, he served as the PNP Communications and Electronics Service director.
Martinez was a no-show in the supposed turnover of command.
PNP spokesperson Jean Fajardo said on Thursday that they will file a complaint for obstruction of justice against six individuals who allegedly tried to assault police officers who attempted to serve arrest warrants on Quiboloy and five other co-accused in Davao City.
Duterte said they will also file cases against the PNP and PRO-11, citing emotional and material damage and criticized the absence of search warrants, stating that the operations an “overkill.” (Ian Carl Espinosa/MindaNews)
