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Marbil to incoming PNP chief Torre: 'Continue the reform; you're better than me'
Marbil to incoming PNP chief Torre: 'Continue the reform; you're better than me'
If outgoing Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil were to offer one piece of advice to his successor, Major Gen. Nicolas Torre III, it would be to carry on with the ongoing reforms within the police organization.
Marbil will retire on June 7 and be succeeded by Torre, who currently heads the PNP’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG).
“Alam mo kilala ko naman ever since si General Torre. Sabi ko, just continue the reform, kung ano ‘yung nakikita mong kailangan nating improve-in, kung ano yung pagkakamali during my time, we have to correct it (You know, I have known General Torre ever since. I told him to just continue the reform, whatever you think needs to improve, what you think are my mistakes during my time, we have to correct it),” he said.
Even at this early stage, Marbil is already expressing high praise for Torre: “I know he's better than me.”
Further, Marbil also shared that he had advised Torre to “take good care” of the more senior PNP officers who were “left behind” after his appointment to the top PNP post.
“Ang sabi ko lang, we have to see and treat them well. But, anybody can be the chief. Kayang-kaya naman nila, lahat naman ‘yan magagaling (The only thing that I said is we have to see and treat them well. But, anybody can be the chief. They are all capable, they are all excellent officers). They're better than me 100 percent,” he stressed.
According to Malacañang, President Marcos Jr.’s decision to appoint Torre III as the next leader of the 230,000-strong police force was based on merit and professionalism.
Marbil denied that Torre’s appointment was a “reward” by Marcos for the arrest of Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) leader Apollo Quiboloy and former president Rodrigo Duterte as the CIDG chief.
“Hindi siya as a reward because capable naman ‘yung tao talaga (It’s not a reward because that person is really capable).”
‘No legacy’
Meanwhile, Marbil said that he would not have any legacy once he vacated his post as he only continued the “good deeds” and policies of his predecessors.
“There will be no legacy, just a continuation of the magagandang policies na iniwanan sa akin ng mga naging Chief PNPs (good deeds left behind by former Chief PNPs),” he said.
Marbil, the 30th PNP chief, is a member of the Philippine Military Academy’s Sambisig Class of 1991. He took command of the top police post on April 1, 2024.
He was supposed to retire last February 7 when he reached the mandatory retirement age of 56. However, his stint was extended by Marcos for four months, citing the importance of leadership stability within the PNP during a critical election season.
“Tuwang-tuwa ako. Bakit? Nasa mas maganda kaming kalagayan ngayon (I am very happy. Why? It’s because we are at a better place now). We can say we were better off. We are proud of our uniform,” Marbil said.
If offered another government position, Marbil said that he would have to think about it as he needs to consider his family.
“It really depends on the President. Sabi ng asawa ko, noong na-extend ako, nalulungkot (My wife (Mary Rose) told me when my term was extended that she felt sad),” he said. “Ang plano ko talaga (My plan) is really to spend my time with my family.”