VICE President Sara Duterte said only God can determine whether former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief General Nicolas Torre III’s sudden removal from his post was a form of karma.
“Because only God can really say what is right for a person,” Duterte told reporters when asked about Torre, the same police general who led the arrest of her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, earlier this year.
“I can’t say if it’s karma or not,” she added, noting that the development may simply be part of Torre’s “life’s journey.”
“Sometimes you’re at the top, and then 85 days later, you’re at the bottom,” she said.
The vice president, currently in The Hague to visit her detained father, recalled Torre’s role in denying her request to see the former president during his arrest.
Torre had said Sara could only visit him once he was transferred to the International Criminal Court’s detention facility.
As former chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), Torre personally oversaw the arrest of Duterte before his transfer to the ICC in March.
He also led the high-profile capture of Kingdom of Jesus Christ founder Apollo Quiboloy in Davao City last year over charges of human trafficking and sexual exploitation of minors.
Duterte earlier admitted she was uneasy with Torre’s appointment as PNP chief in June, describing it as “too sketchy.”
Torre’s relief from his post came less than three months later, with Police Lieutenant General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. now serving as acting chief.
Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla clarified that Torre’s removal was due to his refusal to follow a National Police Commission directive on the reassignment of key officers.
He also dismissed allegations that Torre was ousted for rejecting a supposed proposal to purchase firearms.
Remulla added that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is considering Torre for another government position.