Torre: Police anti-drug campaign will uphold due process, respect human rights

DAVAO CITY (June 4) — Newly appointed Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief General Nicolas Torre III assured the public that all police actions, particularly in the anti-drug campaign, will strictly adhere to legal protocols and respect human rights.

Torre’s statement followed concerns raised by the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) over his recent directive that the number of drug-related arrests will be one of the performance metrics for police officers.

“We are not encouraging shortcuts nor measuring success solely by arrest counts,” Torre clarified. “What we advocate is genuine, lawful police work. Everything we do is within the ambit of the law.”

He emphasized that all police operations must comply with the Constitution, Revised Rules of Criminal Procedure, and the PNP’s operational standards. Arresting officers, he said, are bound by strict guidelines — including securing valid warrants or establishing lawful grounds for warrantless arrests.

Torre underscored that the goal is not a numbers game but a call for diligence, professionalism, and commitment to legal procedure. “If you believe in your case, go to the prosecutor, raise your hand to the judge, and present your evidence,” he said. “That’s how you prove you’re a good police officer.”

He further assured that PNP personnel continue to receive training on professionalism, non-lethal tactics, and the humane treatment of suspects.

“We welcome the CHR’s reminder, and we assure both them and the Filipino public that due process remains at the heart of our anti-drug efforts,” Torre said.

Meanwhile, Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos emphasized the need to end the cycle of finger-pointing between law enforcement and prosecutors, highlighting the importance of unified action through inter-agency collaboration.

“This time, it stops. This time, we work together. We train together. We win together,” Abalos said during the launch of the Training and Educational Program for DOJ Prosecutors and Law Enforcement Agents (TEPLEA) 2025 at the Department of Justice (DOJ) headquarters in Manila.

TEPLEA 2025 is a nationwide initiative that aims to enhance coordination and professionalism among the PNP, DOJ, NBI, PDEA, and the Philippine Coast Guard. The program’s first batch includes 100 officers and prosecutors undergoing joint training.

Abalos lamented the public’s growing cynicism toward law enforcement institutions due to the lack of visibility of their positive efforts.

“We don’t often hear about the DOJ’s role in convicting criminals or the Coast Guard’s defense of our territorial waters. This breeds distrust. TEPLEA gives us the chance to rewrite that narrative,” he added.

Among those present at the event were Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, General Torre, NBI Director Jaime Santiago, PCG Vice Admiral Edgar Ibañez, Transportation Assistant Secretary Dioscoro Reyes, and PDEA Deputy Director General Israel Ephraim Dickson.