Philippine National Police (PNP)chief Gen. Nicolas Torre III on Monday reminded officers to stop passing cases from one precinct to another and instead accompany complainants through the entire case process.
Speaking during his first flag-raising ceremony as PNP chief, Torre urged policemen to solve cases even when these fall outside their station’s jurisdiction.
“When someone enters a station, let’s assist them — don’t leave them behind, don’t neglect them, and don’t just point them elsewhere,” Torre said.
He cited situations where complaints are lodged in precincts outside the area of jurisdiction, saying police should personally accompany the complainant to the proper station instead of simply redirecting them.
Torre also addressed the decline in crime statistics, but cautioned against relying solely on the numbers.
“Statistics mean nothing,” he said, stressing that what truly matter is whether the public feels safe.
To boost police visibility and street presence, Torre ordered the dismantling of community precincts, saying officers should be out in the field actively deterring crime.
Torre also reminded officers seeking promotions to submit affidavits of arrest to prove the legitimacy of warrantless arrests made.
“Every time you arrest someone without a warrant, you’re putting your entire career on the line with the stroke of a pen when you sign that affidavit of arrest,” he said, warning that illegal arrests could lead to dismissal from the police force.
During his recent turnover speech, Torre said the number of arrests would now serve as a performance metric for evaluating police work.
In response to concerns raised by the Commission on Human Rights about pressure to increase arrests, Torre reiterated that the use of lethal force should always be a last resort.
He also commended the CHR for its role in ensuring that law enforcement officers uphold human rights and perform their duties within the bounds of the law.