PNP Chief: Affidavit of Arrest Now Required for Promotion; CHR Seeks Safeguards on Human Rights

By Sherman Calotes | Philippine People's Press 

CAMP CRAME, Quezon City — June 10, 2025 In a bid to boost the effectiveness and accountability of the Philippine National Police (PNP), new PNP Chief General Nicolas Torre III announced a major policy shift: police officers seeking promotion will now be required to submit affidavits of arrest as proof of performance.

The announcement was made during Torre’s first flag-raising ceremony as the head of the country’s 230,000-strong police force. The new policy emphasizes arrests specifically warrantless arrests under Rule 113 of the Revised Rules of Court as a measurable output in evaluating an officer’s effectiveness.

“What’s the receipt that you caught a criminal? It’s simple: the affidavit of arrest,” Torre said, addressing ranks from patrolmen to lieutenants. “If you want to be promoted, that will be one of the requirements.”

Torre made it clear that this would become a key performance metric under his leadership, aligned with his earlier directive to intensify police action against illegal drugs and criminality across the nation.

Emphasis on Lawful Conduct, Not Killings

Mindful of potential human rights concerns, Torre visited the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) immediately after the flag-raising ceremony to personally explain the policy. He assured CHR officials that the PNP will remain firmly committed to due process and human rights, even as they adopt more aggressive strategies against criminality.

“There will be no tolerance for extrajudicial killings under my watch,” Torre said. “Our officers will act based on the law and respond only with the necessary force.”

He cited Article 11 of the Revised Penal Code which outlines justifying circumstances such as self-defense as the legal basis for appropriate police response in confrontational scenarios.

“A small knife doesn’t justify the use of deadly force,” Torre explained. “But if an officer is outnumbered and faced with larger weapons, that’s a different matter. Judgment calls will always rest on the officer on the ground.”

CHR Backs PNP, Urges Proportionate Use of Force

CHR Chairperson Richard Palpal-Latoc welcomed Torre’s visit and acknowledged the PNP’s role in securing communities. However, he reiterated the importance of adhering to legal bounds and proportionality in the use of force.

“We support the police in their mandate,” Latoc said. “What matters is that their actions are lawful. Use of force is acceptable, but only when necessary and proportionate.”

Community-Centered Policing

Beyond arrests, Torre also stressed the importance of compassionate and responsive policing, calling on all stations to accept complaints regardless of jurisdiction and personally assist civilians in seeking the correct government agency or office for help.

This holistic approach, Torre noted, seeks not only to catch criminals but also to restore public trust in law enforcement.

As the PNP embarks on this new direction under Torre’s leadership, the challenge now lies in balancing operational efficiency with civil liberties a tightrope that the new chief says he is ready to walk.

(Source: Philippine National Police, Philippine News Agency)

Philippine People's Press | In Truth We Prevail