A LETTER written by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin in 2023 seems to validate the controversial reassignments made by former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Nicolas Torre III, and refuted claims he “overstepped his bounds.” A document obtained by The Manila Times showed that the July 13, 2023 letter, which was addressed to then-interior secretary Benhur Abalos, discussed the National Police Commission’s (Napolcom) resolution recommending the President’s designation of officials to key positions within the PNP. In the letter’s third paragraph, Bersamin specifically stated that “future designations of third-level officials and/or to third-level positions are left to the authority of the PNP Chief, save for designations to third-level positions that would entail promotions to a higher rank which are subject to the confirmation of the Napolcom.” According to a source, Torre made the reshuffle, apparently convinced he was acting according to the prevailing directive. The source also said it is “obvious” that Bersamin — the same person who signed Torres’ relief papers — “gave full control of PNP positioning to the chief” back then. Torre was appointed to the post on May 29, only to relinquish it 85 days later, making him the shortest serving PNP chief in history. Sources in the PNP consider his replacement, Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr., to have long been “PNP chief in the making.” Nartatez held several key positions in the PNP, most notably as deputy chief for administration, the second-highest post, at the time of Torre’s appointment. Torre, whose breakthrough achievement was his high-profile arrest of televangelist Apollo Quiboloy and former president Rodrigo Duterte, was said to have “stepped on a lot of toes” when he took charge of the 230,000-strong police force. Nartatez was promptly reassigned by Torre as area police commander of Western Mindanao. He was among the 13 officials shifted by Torre to third-level positions. On Aug. 14, Napolcom issued a resolution nullifying Torre’s reassignments, saying that while the PNP chief can designate, assign and reassign police commissioned officers to third-level positions, it retains the power to review, approve, reverse or modify such acts. Based on Bersamin’s letter, Nartatez’s reassignment did not constitute a promotion, which meant the order had never been superseded. Another notable loophole in the Napolcom memo, aside from reversing the PNP chief’s personnel movement decisions, is its own reassignments. Top police officials and alumni have rallied behind Torre, calling Napolcom’s move as “abusive” and “overturning of a lawful order issued under the Chief PNP’s authority.” Torre is also said to have ruffled feathers after he refused to sign a Request for Endorsement and Budget Support to Congress for an additional P8-billion funding for the acquisition of 80,000 units of 5.56-millimeter assault rifles for the PNP for fiscal year 2026. The justification for the acquisition was the PNP’s takeover of internal security operations from the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Torre reportedly refused to sign the request believing that the acquisition is too excessive for a civilian agency like the PNP, a decision that put him at loggerheads with Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla. The Times source said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. himself “assured” that the July 13 order emanating from his office would be “superseded prospectively,” meaning that all his appointments would remain valid. Torre was said to have taken the President at his word. The sources said Marcos urged Torre to simply follow Napolcom’s memo, but during this time, Remulla was allegedly already recalling Nartatez.