Torre: Lethal force should be last resort during arrest
Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police General Nicolas Torre III said Monday that lethal force should be the last resort in arresting a criminal.
Torre made the statement in his speech during his courtesy visit to the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) in Quezon City.
'Huwag kayong mag-alala yung [sa] sinasabi nating paramihan ng huli. I really don't believe na yan ay maaabuso. Napakalas naman ng loob ng pulis na para lang makahuli ay gagawa ho ng huli. Tapos na ho yun,' Torre said.
(Don't worry about what we're saying about increasing the number of arrests. I really don't believe that will be abused. The police are not that desperate to fabricate an arrest. That is a thing of the past.)
'At dito, ang palagi kong ini-emphasize lethal force will only be used as a last resort. Buhay ang tao. Kaya kapag nag-reklamo sa CHR. Yan magkikita-kita tayo,' he added.
(And here's what I always emphasize: lethal force will only be used as a last resort. The person is alive. So when you complain to the CHR. We will meet each other there.)
Torre cited Article 11 of the Revised Penal Code that covers justifying circumstances and circumstances that exempt from criminal liability.
'Sa aresto, you will take somebody in custody. There is always a possibility that they will fight. So when they fight, papasok ngayon yung Article 11, justifying circumstances, self-defense,' Torre said in an ambush interview.
'Dedepensa ang pulis kung sa kanilang paningin ay endangered sila,' he added.
(The police will defend themselves if they are endangered.)
The PNP chief was responding to the concerns earlier raised by the CHR regarding his statement that the number of arrests will be a factor in the assessment of police officers.
Torre said he will require police officers who conducted warrantless arrest to submit affidavits of arrest, which will be the basis for their promotions.
'Iisa ang proseso sa arrest without warrant. Dadalhin natin sa inquest....Number one document na kailangan para sa inquest which is defined as a summary proceedings conducted by a prosecutor to determine whether a person arrested without a warrant should remain in custody,' he said.
(The process for arrest without a warrant is the same. We will take someone to inquest proceedings....This is the number one document needed for an inquest which is defined as a summary proceedings conducted by a prosecutor to determine whether a person arrested without a warrant should remain in custody.)
'Kaya karamihan ng affidavit of arrest ang aking batayan dahil yan ang pinakanakakatakot na trabaho ng pulis,' he added.
(So mostly, affidavits of arrest are my basis because that is the most feared job of the police.)
According to Torre, if police officers committed a violation or gave a wrong testimony, they will face punishment such as dismissal from the service and suspension from their posts.
First courtesy visit by a PNP chief
CHR chairperson Richard Palpal-latoc said Torre is the first PNP chief to pay a courtesy visit to the Commission.
'Buong puso naming binabati si Police General Nicolas Torre III sa kanyang panunungkulan bilang bagong chief ng PNP. Welcome po sa CHR. Makasaysayan yung pagdalaw niyo rito. Kauna-unahan ho yatang dumalaw ang Chief PNP sa Komisyon,' he said.
(We wholeheartedly congratulate Police General Nicolas Torre III on his post as the new chief of the PNP. Welcome to the CHR. Your visit here is historic. It is the first time that the Chief PNP has visited the Commission.)
Palpal-latoc said Torre's visit will improve the coordination between the CHR and PNP. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News
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