PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) chief General Nicolas Torre III said Monday, June 10, 2025, that police officers seeking promotion will have to submit affidavits of arrest as “receipts” or proof of accomplishments.
During his first flag-raising ceremony as head of the 230,000-strong police force, Torre reiterated his marching order to police officers to increase arrests related to drugs and criminality, making this a new performance metric for the organization.
The top cop emphasized the significant role of the police to law enforcement, crime prevention and control, maintenance of peace and order, and ensure public safety and internal security with the active support of the community.
“Ano ang resibo na ikaw ay nakapanghuli ng kriminal? Ang pinag-uusapan natin ‘yong arrest without warrant ha. Warrantless arrest in accordance to Rule 113 of the Revised Rules of Court. Ano ang resibo? Ang resibo ay affidavit of arrest. ‘Yon lang, very simple,” Torre said.
(What is the proof that you caught a criminal? We're talking about arrest without a warrant here. Warrantless arrest in accordance with Rule 113 of the Revised Rules of Court. What is the proof? The proof is the affidavit of arrest. That's it, very simple.)
“So, sa mga rank and file, sa mga patrolman natin, sa corporal and sergeants and sa mga lieutenants natin na nagpapa-promote, isang malaking metrics ang points ng affidavit of arrest. Kung gusto niya mapromote, affidavit of arrest, isa sa mga ipapakita natin, isa sa mga ire-require natin,” he added.
(So, for the rank and file, for our patrolmen, corporals, sergeants, and our lieutenants who are aiming for promotion, the points from the affidavit of arrest are a big metric. If they want to be promoted, the affidavit of arrest is one of the things we show, one of the things we require.)
Torre also urged policemen to show compassion to those in distress, respond swiftly, and ensure the resolution of crimes.
He reiterated that all police stations should accept complaints or reports from the public, even if the concern falls outside their jurisdiction.
Torre said officers must personally escort the complainant to the appropriate police station or government agency and endorse them directly.
After the flag-raising in Camp Crame, Torre went to the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) office in Quezon City to attend its flag raising ceremony and to meet with its officials to personally explain his “paramihan ng huli” directive.
Earlier, while the CHR acknowledged the policy’s intent to reduce crime rates and improve public safety in the country, it expressed concerns that Torre’s order could lead to abuse.
In his speech, Torre assured CHR officials that police officers will maintain the highest regard for human rights while doing their duty and most especially that no one will be killed.
He reiterated that he will not tolerate extrajudicial killings under his leadership.
“Well, alam niyo kasi sa aresto, you will take somebody in custody. There’s always a possibility they will fight so when they will fight papasok ngayon ‘yung Article 11 justifying circumstances, self-defense, dedepensa ang pulis kung sa kanilang paningin ay endangered pero siyempre graduated ‘yung force din,” Torre said.
(Well, you know, in an arrest, you will take somebody into custody. There's always a possibility that they will resist, so if they do, that's when Article 11 on justifying circumstances comes in—self-defense. The police will defend themselves if, in their perception, they are in danger. But of course, the use of force must also be graduated.)
“May kutsilyo nga, may kutsilyo naman ang nail cutter, alangan naman barilin mo yan, hindi uubra yan pero kung may kutsilyo nga, kris naman or malaking espada naman yan at tatlo sila, mag-isa ang pulis, aba’y ibang usapan yan. So there’s always that question sa use of force naman. Andiyan naman ‘yung judgement call ng police on the ground,” he added.
(A knife, sure—but a nail cutter has a small blade too. It doesn’t mean you’ll shoot someone over that; that won’t stand. But if it’s really a knife—say a kris or a large sword—and there are three of them and the police officer is alone, then that’s a different story. So there’s always that question when it comes to the use of force. That’s where the judgment call of the police on the ground comes in.)
CHR chairperson Richard Palpa-Latoc welcomed Torre’s visit, expressing his full support to the PNP.
“Actually, sinusuportahan namin ‘yung tungkulin ng pulis. Sila ‘yung may tungkulin upang pangalagaan ang ating seguridad sa pamayanan. Ang importante sa amin ay as long as the duties are performed within the bounds of the law at kung kailangan gumamit ng puwersa ng kapulisan, puwede naman yan as long as it is necessary and commensurate to the force being confronted with,” Latoc said.
(Actually, we support the duties of the police. They are the ones responsible for safeguarding the security of our communities. What’s important to us is that their duties are carried out within the bounds of the law, and if there is a need to use force, that’s acceptable—as long as it is necessary and proportionate to the force they are being confronted with.) (TPM/SunStar Philippines)