Torre goes on leave: I'm a good soldier

After unceremoniously being relieved as Philippine National Police chief, Gen. Nicolas Torre III took a leave of absence from the PNP yesterday, while making clear that, as a "good soldier," he bore no rancor against President Marcos.

- By DELON PORCALLA

"Look at me straight in the eye. Do I look like somebody who is bitter? Do I look bitter? I have no ill feelings, I am a good soldier," Torre told reporters at the House of Representatives where he visited ML party-list Rep. Leila de Lima, who was celebrating her birthday.

The four-star general, who still has two years before retirement in 2027, was visibly in a good mood as he entertained questions.

Torre, a product of the PNP Academy, was dismissed Tuesday as announced by Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla, who said part of the reason was insubordination and acting beyond his authority, without clearance from higher ups.

Torre said he had no bad blood either with the DILG chief, who has supervisory powers over the PNP.

"Nothing was damaged," he said when asked about his feelings toward Remulla. "The premise of your question is, beyond repair, so it's as if something is damaged. I'm telling you, since Tuesday, in Secretary Jonvic's official statement, was anything damaged? There was nothing, right?"