Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) chief Police Major Gen. Nicolas Torre III on Sunday expressed willingness to testify at Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment trial, if he were asked to do so.
During a forum in Quezon City, Torre said he would follow the instructions from the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the prosecution team handling the impeachment case.
“Sa ngayon, let me not put the cart before the horse because ang mga investigation against kay VP Sara ay joint palagi na ginagawa ng NBI at saka ng PNP CIDG under the offices of the DOJ. Depende sa kung ano ang magiging pananaw ng DOJ at saka ng mga prosecution panel kung kailangan nila ang testimony namin (For now, let me not put the cart before the horse. The investigations against VP Sara are always conducted jointly by the NBI and PNP-CIDG under the DOJ. It will depend on the DOJ and the prosecution panel if they need our testimony),” Torre, who is a former Police Regional Office 11 (Davao Region) director, said Sunday.
He emphasized that, as the CIDG chief, he must testify on matters he has investigated, especially if his testimony is required in the impeachment case.
“I have no other course but to appear in the impeachment court kung kinakailangan (if needed),” he said.
Last Monday, Torre filed a complaint before the DOJ over former President Rodrigo Duterte’s remarks insinuating the killing of sitting senators to create vacancies for the senatorial bets endorsed by the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban).
Torre said he believed that his move was “within the mandate of the CIDG.”
“Thus, I made the decision. But I informed the Chief PNP. I informed the higher-ups of this action. I made an official report,” he further stressed.