When a tenant in Parañaque City was locked out of his apartment by the angry owner over unpaid monthly rent, he immediately went to the local police station to seek assistance in at least getting his appliances and other personal valuables.

But the policemen in a police sub-station in Parañaque City, despite his explanation that it was the caretaker of the apartment who should be held liable for not remitting the rent to the owner, told him that it was a barangay matter and advised to go to the barangay hall instead.

The tenant heed the advice and went to the barangay hall, only to be rejected anew as the barangay officials believe that a crime was already committed when he was barred from entering the apartment to get his belongings.

The tenant then sent a message to Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Nicolas Torre III who advised him to go back to the police station.

“I talked to the policemen on duty to tell them that if they think it was a barangay matter, then they must go with the complainant to the barangay, clear and simple,” said Torre.

“I don’t want any person seeking assistance to be sent away from police station. Our policemen should always be there to help,” he added.

After assuming the top PNP post, Torre ordered all policemen to respond to all the complaints of the people, especially if it concerns peace and order and law enforcement.

He explained that policemen are always deemed a neutral third party in any conflict, no matter how trivial it is, and their presence and assistance will be of big help in settling a dispute.

In the case of the conflict between the tenant and the owner of the apartment in Parañaque City, Torre said it was the policemen’s assistance which convinced the apartment owner to let the tenant get the belongings.

“So that night they separated ways under the auspices of the police. This means that it can be done, so let us do it,” said Torre.

So what would happen if the incident was not relayed to Torre? Would this mean that a complainant should have a friend in the police for his concerns to be immediately attended to?

That must not be the case for Torre and for him, attending to all the call for police assistance should be a standard operating procedure for all policemen for the PNP to gain the trust and confidence of the people.  

The act of not extending assistance to a person in need of police help, according to Torre, has a negative implication on the image of the PNP.

The police’s active response was what Torre promised during his assumption speech.

“We will strengthen our partnerships with the public so that we can better understand local needs and respond to them with empathy and precision,” said Torre.