Newly-installed Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Nicolas Torre III has committed to implement and institutionalize a three-minute police response in Metro Manila and other urban areas across the country as part of the new strategy to make the presence of policemen felt in the community.

President Marcos earlier tasked the police force to deploy more policemen on the streets and to ensure police visibility in the communities and for Torre, the three-minute police response is the answer.

“In compliance with the directive of the President for swift and responsive public service, we will institutionalize a three-minute emergency response time in major urban centers,” said Torre in his speech during the turnover of command at Camp Crame in Quezon City on Monday, June 2.

“This is not just a benchmark, it is a lifeline. Every call for help deserves immediate attention and action. We will be present,” he added.  

Torre said the three-minute emergency police response is not something new as this was already implemented in Quezon City when he was in the district. 

The success of its implementation in Quezon City, according to Torre, is proof that the police’s quick response is doable.

“We are going to implement it nationwide and our infrastructure is ready. What is needed at this point is leadership intervention so I’m going to really make sure that our mid-level supervisors will know their roles,” said Torre. 

But why only urban areas?

Torre explained that the concept behind the three-minute emergency police response is a fast response to call for cops’ assistance 24 hours a day, and citing the prevailing situation, he said only city centers are areas where people are active the whole day.

“The culture in the city centers are different from rural areas because in rural areas, people already start to sleep at 7 p.m. or 8 p.m. The police response is different in these areas,” said Torre.  

Three pillars

The three-minute emergency police response is one of the three pillars that Torre wants the strategic policing to anchor on.

In order to support the three-minute emergency police response, he said he will make sure that there is unity and that the morale of all policemen is high.

“A divided force cannot defend a nation. Thus, we will strengthen our core from within, guided by discipline, mutual respect and leadership by example,” said Torre.

While demanding high expectations from cops, Torre vowed to provide the best training, best leadership, best support and the best opportunity to grow in the police force “because those who are asked to give all also deserve nothing less in return.”

The third pillar, according to Torre, is accountability and modernization. 

“In support of the President's reform agenda and of key pillar number one on swift and responsive public service, we will modernize our systems, enhance our investigative tools and adopt innovative technologies that protect rights while ensuring order,” said Torre.

Human rights-based 

As he assumed the leadership of the 220,000-strong PNP, Torre vowed that appointments will be based solely on merit and only the most competent will be entrusted with the right positions in the right places.

In a press briefing, Torre emphasized the need for every policeman to stick to the police operational procedures and existing human rights laws.  

“Deliver excellence in your police work. File affidavits. Execute warrants. Bring criminals to justice. Raise your hands in front of judges and fiscals and provide evidence against these criminals to support their conviction. And you will be recognized and rewarded,” said Torre.

“Of course, I have to reiterate that all of these actions must be done within the ambit of the law, evidence-based and rights-respecting. I challenge each and every member of the PNP to be louder than me, not only in words but also in action,” he added.

More arrests

One of the metrics in measuring the performance of police commanders and police units is the number of arrests, according to Torre.

“Included in our metrics is the number of arrests. But make sure that everything that we do is within the ambit of the law,” said Torre.

“If you are really a good policeman, then you should not allow any criminal to remain scot-free. So arrest them, bring them to the fiscal, present the evidence… Those are the things that primarily will be the metrics of individual policemen,” said Torre.

The beauty behind arresting criminals, according to Torre, is that they will be given the chance to disprove the allegations being raised against them—compared to what was done in the past that criminals are killed.