Former NBI–NCR director Ricardo Diaz disputed claims that ex-PNP chief Nicolas Torre III had undergone mandatory retirement, saying his appointment as MMDA general manager was simply a case of “secondment.”
“For the education of Jonvic and (Palace Press Officer) Claire Castro, ‘secondment’ is a temporary detail of personnel from the parent agency to a host agency for a specific project, specialized task, or development opportunity. The seconded officer continues to remain on the payroll of the parent agency and only receives an allowance from the host agency,” Diaz explained in a Facebook post.
Diaz noted that several high-ranking officers had been seconded to other agencies without losing their employment status, continuing to draw salaries from their parent agencies while receiving honoraria from host institutions.
He argued Torre’s MMDA role could fall under this arrangement, allowing him to remain on the PNP payroll.
The Civil Service Commission (CSC), in a 2024 memorandum, defined secondment as the movement of an official to another government-recognized body without affecting continuity of employment, provided a memorandum of agreement specifies salaries, benefits, and duration.
PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Randulf Tuaño rejected Diaz’s view, insisting Torre had already retired. Torre himself denied filing any retirement papers, stressing he was not the first police officer to serve in other agencies.
“Hindi naman first time ‘yan na ang isang pulis ay nagtrabaho sa ibang agencies. Marami. At ‘yun lang, may mga active nga na police officers na kakabalik lang sa PNP—high-ranking police officers na 10 years nag-stay sa BI, sa Bureau of Immigration,” Torre said.
Torre added he was awaiting instructions from President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. before making any retirement-related decisions.