Metro Manila Police Commanders Removed for Failing Five-Minute Response
Eight police commanders across Metro Manila lost their posts after failing to meet the five-minute police response policy, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Nicolas Torre III announced on Monday, June 16. This swift action highlights the urgency of improving police response times to emergency calls.
Gen. Torre emphasized that more police commanders are expected to be relieved due to poor performance in planning and supervising their teams during simulation drills. “We already relieved eight chief of police in NCR (National Capital Region) and there will be more because I was there in Central Visayas yesterday (June 15) in Iloilo and I cautioned some provincial commanders there,” he shared.
Opening Positions for Qualified Leadership
To ensure compliance with the new standards, Torre explained that the vacated positions will be made available to other competent police commanders. “We will declare those positions open so that other interested and qualified police commanders would be given the opportunity to comply with our standard,” he added.
President Marcos, after appointing Torre as the fourth Chief PNP, tasked him with maximizing police visibility so the public can feel safer with officers present on the ground. In response, Torre began enforcing the five-minute police response policy, claiming its feasibility based on his previous success as the director of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD).
Firm Stance on Response Times
Slow police response was also a concern during Torre’s tenure as regional director in the Davao Region, where he relieved several commanders for similar reasons. “That is our commitment to the President and to the Filipino people. So if they can’t cope up with it, if they can’t step up to that standard, we will look for commanders who will do so,” Torre stated firmly.
He underscored the importance of proactive leadership among chiefs of police. They must actively devise strategies to optimize the deployment and readiness of their units in responding quickly to calls.
Leadership Through Communication
Torre noted that effective radio communication plays a crucial role in accomplishing the mission. “Actually it’s not about the radio itself, it’s about accomplishing the mission. You could not comply with the five-minute response if our chiefs of police will not be able to command their men,” he explained.
“So I want them to actually command not only figuratively but literally, they can issue the command over the radio or in a communication that they want,” he added, emphasizing the need for hands-on leadership.
These measures reflect the PNP’s renewed focus on accountability and efficiency to better serve the Filipino people.
For more news and updates on police response policy, visit Filipinokami.com.
