Vice President Sara Duterte described the sudden relief of Gen. Nicolas Torre III as Philippine National Police (PNP) chief as a turning point in his personal journey, saying it was not for anyone to judge.
“I cannot say if it’s karma or not as it is only God who can say what a person deserves,” Duterte said in an interview in The Hague, Netherlands. She added, “Maybe it is part of his journey in his life. Sometimes you’re on top and then 85 days later you’re at the bottom.”
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered Torre’s removal “effective immediately” just three months after his appointment. Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin formalized the directive in a letter dated August 25. His dismissal followed reports of a clash with Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla over the reshuffling of 13 senior police officials, including Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. Hours later, Remulla presided over the turnover ceremony at Camp Crame, installing Nartatez as the new PNP chief.
In the same interview, Duterte also spoke about Pastor Apollo Quiboloy’s looming extradition to the United States, claiming that it was part of a pre-arranged plan.
“I already told everything to pastor Apollo Quiboloy… the information we got from the House of Representatives,” she said, recalling discussions that began when a privilege speech was delivered by former PBA party-list representative Migs Nograles. According to Duterte, the alleged strategy involved filing local cases first, having him arrested, dismissing those charges, and then turning him over to U.S. authorities.
Quiboloy, the leader of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ and a close ally of former president Rodrigo Duterte, faces sex trafficking, bulk cash smuggling, and immigration fraud charges in the U.S. In the Philippines, he is also facing human trafficking and child abuse complaints from former church members. The Department of Justice earlier said that his local cases must be resolved before any extradition process can move forward.
Meanwhile, the Vice President confirmed she will fly to Japan on September 21–22 to meet with the Filipino community there as part of the “Free Duterte” campaign ahead of the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) confirmation of charges hearing against her father on September 23.
“Japan (trip) will proceed. It was already set by the Filipino community,” Duterte said.
The visit will mark her 13th foreign trip this year, continuing her overseas engagements amid the detention of her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, who is facing crimes against humanity charges before the ICC over his administration’s bloody war on drugs.
