Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla has denied rumors linking the proposed additional ₱8-billion fund for police firearms to the removal of PGen. Nicolas Torre III as chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP).
Remulla stressed that the issue had nothing to do with Torre’s dismissal, pointing out that he was the one who instructed Torre to personally review the proposal.
“Sumulat ako kay then-(PNP) Chief Gen. Torre at sabi ko sa kanya na siya ang competent authority para mag-judge kung quality ng product, kung kailangan (a)ng product,” Remulla said.
He added: “Nag-usap kami at pareho kami, sabi nya ‘Sir, this our exact needs and we don’t need the rifles, we are 95% compliant with the requirements of PNP’, so that was never part of the reason.”
Remulla clarified that the proposal did not originate from him but from a member of Congress, whose name he refused to disclose.
He also underscored that he does not approve any congressional insertions outside the National Expenditure Program (NEP) of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
“Basta po insertion, I made it very clear to the President na hindi ko siya pipirmahan, in this case, insertion sya kaya sinabihan ko si Gen. Torre na dahan-dahan siya dahil siya (ang) magiging recommending authority,” he stressed.
According to Remulla, critics of the Marcos administration are merely trying to pit him and Torre against each other.