Drug arrests now part of cops’ evaluation, says new PNP chief
Newly appointed Philippine National Police chief Gen. Nicolas Torre III on Monday said drug-related arrests will be part of the performance metrics for the organization and at the same time assured the public that human rights will be upheld in the process.
“If you are really a good policeman, then you should not allow any criminal to go scot-free. Arrest them, bring them to the fiscal (prosecutor), present the evidence. Those are the things that primarily will be the metrics of performance of individual policemen,” he said.
President Marcos reiterated the marching order to Torre, who replaced Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil, during the PNP change of command ceremony in Camp Crame in Quezon City, to go back to hunting small-time drug dealers while continuing major drug busts.
He first made the order to law enforcers shortly after the 2025 midterm elections, where only five administration-backed candidates won seats in the Senate, while three allies of his predecessor, former President Rodrigo Duterte, were at the top spot.
When he assumed office in 2022, the President ordered the PNP to focus on going after big-time narcotics suppliers and distributors instead of small drug pushers.
Legal assistance
Duterte’s deadly drug war targeted alleged low-level dealers and criminals and saw some 6,000 people killed, according to official figures.
However, human rights watchdogs and the International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor have estimated the death toll to be between 12,000 and 30,000 from 2016 to 2019, as they noted that many of these incidents were extrajudicial killings.
This is the main reason why Duterte is detained in The Hague, the Netherlands, to face charges of murder as a crime against humanity.
In March, during the Senate hearing investigating the arrest of Duterte by the ICC, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said that about 95 percent of “wrongful deaths” during Duterte’s drug war had no police records.
Torre allayed the public’s fears that their campaign would be similar to the previous administration’s bloody drug war.
“Remember, those people you arrest, you don’t shoot or kill them. Human rights still apply,” Torre pointed out.
Police officers will also receive assistance if they encounter legal issues while performing their duties, he said.
Quick response
According to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), the agency seized illegal drugs worth P56.37 billion and arrested 131,578 drug personalities and 8,404 high-value targets in 97,406 operations from July 1, 2022, to Jan. 31, 2025.
In April, PDEA said the agency, together with other law enforcement agencies, conducted 10,161 operations in the first quarter of 2025 that resulted in the arrest of 13,497 suspects and the seizure of P6.9 billion worth of illegal drugs.
As the new top cop, Torre also committed to institutionalize a three-minute police response in Metro Manila and other urban areas as part of efforts to make communities feel secure.
He said this was implemented when he served as Quezon City police district director.
“This is not just a benchmark, it is a lifeline. Every call for help deserves immediate attention and action. We will be present,” he said.
Torre also vowed to strengthen unity and morale within the ranks, modernize the agency’s technology and ensure accountability among erring officers under his watch. —WITH A REPORT FROM INQUIRER RESEARCH
