Sara mum, but brother thinks Torre removal due to PNP's 'internal conflicts'

MANILA, Philippines - Vice President Sara Duterte said that she has no comment on the removal of Gen. Nicolas Torre 3rd as police chief, however, her younger brother, Davao City Acting Mayor Sebastian, believed Torre was a product of an "internal struggle" between factions in the Marcos administration. Torre was instrumental in the arrest of their father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, and his spiritual adviser, Kingdom of Jesus Christ televangelist Apollo Quiboloy. In an interview at The Hague on Thursday evening (local time), the vice president was asked on her comment regarding the relief of the police official 'Wala akong comment sa ano ni General Torre --- ano ba ang tawag doon, pag tanggal --- removal (I don't have a comment on his removal)," Sara said. Pressed further if his removal was "karma" for the arrest of both her father and Quiboloy, Duterte was uncertain whether it was indeed karmic justice for their arrests. "Diyos lang naman kasi talaga ang makakapagsabi kung ano yung karapat-dapat para sa isang tao. So, siguro part lang yun ng journey niya sa buhay niya. Sometimes, nandoon ka sa taas, and then 85 days later, nandoon ka sa baba. Ganoon, (It is only god who can say what is important for a person. So maybe that is part of his life journey, sometimes you are up there, and then 85 days later, you are down there), " Sara said. Meanwhile, in a separate interview also at The Hague a day before, Sebastian, also known as Baste, believes that Torre was "demoted" from his post at the PNP due to "internal conflicts" in the administration. "Hindi naman clear yung statement ng Malacanang bakit sya tinanggal, (The Malacanang statement was not clear on his removal), " Mayor Duterte said. He also believes that his replacement, P/Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez, will continue to harass their family, saying in English and Filipino that won't be promoted to chief PNP if there is no intent to harm them or their supporters. President Ferinand Marcos Jr., through Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, relieved Torre after only 85 days as police chief, considered the shortest tenure in PNP history.