RAPS VS DUTERTE
CRIMINAL Investigation and Detection Group chief Maj. Gen. Nicholas Torre III yesterday said neither the Senate nor Malacañang instructed him to file complaints of inciting to sedition and unlawful utterances against former President Rodrigo Duterte over his remarks to kill senators.
“Hindi namin kailangan ang Senado, hindi namin kailangan ang Malacañang dito para mai-file ang kaso na ito. I don’t think Malacañang should get involved in this dahil ito naman ay pure law enforcement. Ang pulis ay law enforcer, so may nakikita tayong violation of law violation of law,” Torre said in a press briefing at Camp Crame.
Torre said PNP chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil gave his approval for the filing of charges against Duterte.
“I informed the PNP Chief Gen. Rommel Marbil] that I’ll be filing the cases and he said, ‘Go ahead, do your job.’ Trabaho ko ito eh,” Torre said.
“I’ll be remiss kung hindi ako mag-file ng kaso at ibang tao ang mag-file ng kaso na ito. Nakakahiya naman sa PNP ‘yun ‘pag inunahan tayo ng ibang tao mag-file sa kitang-kita naman na violation ng isang tao na palaging may nakatutok na camera,” Torre added.
On Monday, Torre filed complaints for inciting sedition and unlawful utterances against Duterte as part of a “case buildup” before the Department of Justice.
“Napakarami kasi ng kanyang mga sinabi, napakahaba, napakarami rin ng mga enumerations ko doon sa complaint na ginawa ko. So I’ll just leave it up to the prosecutors to evaluate kung alin ang kanilang ielevate sa husgado for trial at alin ang kanilang ididismiss kung meron man silang ididismiss,” he Torre said.
He said the cases filed by the CIDG before DOJ do not need a private a complainant.
“Alam naman natin lahat at nakikita natin sa social media kung ano ang kanyang ginawa, inevaluate namin, yun ang finile namin sa DOJ,” he added.
Torre said the former president’s remarks should not be taken lightly, adding that it is time for Duterte to be “held accountable” for his statements.
He further criticized Duterte for failing to fulfill his promises to police personnel who followed his orders during the implementation of his controversial drug war from 2016 to 2022.
Duterte previously talked about killing 15 senators to create vacancies for the candidates he is endorsing in the May 12 midterm elections.
Duterte’s former presidential legal counsel Salvador Panelo argued that the former leader was merely joking.
Torre maintained that Duterte’s utterance about killing people is “not a joking matter.” Philippine News Agency
