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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider VP Sara laughs off Torre's appointment as new PNP chief

VP Sara laughs off Torre's appointment as new PNP chief

Published Jun 1, 2025 10:08 am
Vice President Sara Duterte simply laughed off the appointment of Philippine National Police (PNP) Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) chief Nicolas Torre III, who led the arrest of former president Rodrigo Duterte in March, as the new PNP chief.

Vice President Sara Duterte and new PNP chief Gen. Nicolas Torre III (Photos from Lance Duterte, PNP)


“That’s my reaction,” she told reporters during a press conference in The Hague on Saturday, May 31, after laughing at the question about Torre’s new appointment.

Torre will be replacing outgoing PNP chief Gen. Rommel Marbil, who is set to retire on June 7. The turnover of command will happen on June 2.

The new PNP chief also led the arrest of embattled teleevangelist Apollo Quiboloy, who is facing charges for child abuse, sexual abuse, and human trafficking.

During the media conference alongside a rally staged by Duterte supporters in The Hague, the Vice President also expressed her support for former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, who, she said, is being politically persecuted by the government.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) recently sought the cancellation of Roque’s passport, which would render him an undocumented alien.

A standing warrant of arrest has been issued against the former presidential spokesperson for qualified human trafficking in connection with his role in the Lucky South 99, a Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) hub in Porac, Pampanga that was raided and shut down last year amid allegations of torture, human trafficking, and scamming activities.

“Well, yes. Naawa ako kay Atty. Harry Roque dahil sa totoo lang, pakiramdam ko ay yung persecution sa kanya ay dahil sa pagpapakita niya ng suporta kay dating pangulong Rodrigo Duterte and siyempre sa Tanggapan ng Pangalawang Pangulo (I pity Atty. Harry Roque because in truth, I can feel that he is being persecuted because of his support for former president Rodrigo Duterte and for the Office of the Vice President),” Duterte said.

However, she is also confident in Roque’s skills and capacities as a lawyer, and that he will be able to face the accusations against him.

“Lagi ‘pag nakikita kami, tinatanong ko siya kung kamusta siya. At lagi ko siyang sinasabihan na mag-ingat siya dahil hindi titigil yun sa cancellation lang ng passport niya (When I see him, I ask him how he is. I always tell him to take care because they will not stop at the cancellation of his passport),” she added.

Roque left the Philippines in November last year amid a congressional inquiry into his role in the POGO hub, but he resurfaced in March in The Hague after the former president’s arrest and has since sought asylum in The Netherlands.

His asylum application is currently under process, though the DOJ has plans to seek help from the Interpol to serve the arrest warrant.

The warrant, however, could not be served while the asylum process is ongoing.

Related Tags

Sara Duterte Nicolas Torre III PNP Chief Philippine passport Harry Roque
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