QCPD chief resigns over road rage case
QUEZON City Police District Director Brigadier General Nicolas D. Torre III yesterday submitted his resignation after getting flak for “setting a press conference” with an ex-cop accused of manhandling and showing his gun to a cyclist in Q.C.’s Welcome Rotunda.
Known for doing an excellent job as QCPD director, the member of PNP Academy ‘Tagapaglunsad’ Class of 1993 said he has submitted his resignation letter to PNP chief General Benjamin C. Acorda Jr. to ‘spare the PNP from any other issue.’
He was referring to the slew of criticisms he and the PNP have received including negative social media comments in the aftermath of the controversial August 27 press conference he held with ex-QCPD Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit personnel Wilfredo Gonzales.
“I really regret that press conference. I really regret that deeply,” he said as he went on to apologize to the Filipino people for those actions. Those decisions were made within a very short span of time. In hindsight – which gives us a 20-20 vision, a perfect vision – talagang pag tinignan, I could have done it better,” said Torre.
Even QC mayor Joy Belmonte expressed dismay on what the QC commander did saying; “Itong ating QCPD parang sumasang-ayon lang na para siya yung nagsasabi ng . . . “go ahead, give your side. It felt strange to me. There was something wrong, in my view.”
Torre immediately apologized for his acts saying he could have handled it better while taking responsibility for the matter.
Gonzales, a retired cop, claimed he and the unidentified cyclist had already patched things up right inside the police station shortly after the incident.
One of the youngest members of PNPA Class 1993 in the police force—Torre will be retiring on March 11, 2027—the QCPD director is behind the success of the Q.C. police force in fighting and thwarting criminality through the use of modern technology including CCTV cameras, body cams, and hand-held radios.
Gen. Acorda said he will discuss Torre’s resignation letter with Q.C. Mayor Joy Belmonte and Local Government Secretary Benjamin ‘Benhur’ C. Abalos Jr. By Joel dela Torre and Alfred Dalizon
