Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Juanito Victor “Jonvic’’ Remulla is leaving to Malacañang the final clarification on the status of former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief and now Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) general manager Nicolas Torre III.
Remulla issued the statement when asked for comment on the statement of Torre that he did not avail of optional retirement following the order issued by the PNP of giving him his full retirement benefits.
“Binigyan na ata siya ng optional (retirement). Pero sabi niya hindi niya pa doon napipirmahan eh. So hindi ko alam kung ano ang kwento niya (“It seems he was given an option, but according to him he hasn't signed anything yet. So I don’t know what his story is),” Remulla stressed.
In a news briefing, Remulla asserted that Torre cannot be forced to resign since opting for optional retirement depended solely on Torre.
“Hindi siya (Torre) nagre-retire eh, so wala kami magagawa. Di naman kami pwedeng mamilit sa tao na mag-retire (He did not retire, so we cannot do anything. We cannot force him to retire),’’ Remulla insisted.
The DILG chief noted Malacañang had already spoken on Torre’s status but the ex-PNP chief has yet to formally sign any documents related to retirement.
“Binigyan na ata siya ng optional (retirement). Pero sabi niya hindi niya pa doon napipirmahan eh. So hindi ko alam kung ano ang kwento niya (“It seems he was given an option, but according to him he hasn’t signed anything yet. So I don’t know what his story is),” Remulla stressed.
“Pero sabi niya (Torre) hindi eh. So hindi ko pa alam kung. We granted him full benefits but let's wait for Malacañang na lang to give the full picture. Kasi ang Malacañang ang kanyang appointing authority, kami nag-process na (But he said not yet. So, I don’t know, We granted him full benefits but let’s wait for Malacañang to give the full picture),’’ he added.