A YouTube video suggests that newly appointed Philippine National Police (PNP) chief General Nicolas Torre III has been sacked after his predecessor, Gen. Rommel Marbil, supposedly made allegations of wrongdoing against him. This is misleading.
Torre has not been dismissed by Malacañang. Neither did Marbil expose any misconduct by his successor, contrary to the insinuations of the post.
Uploaded on June 2, the video’s thumbnail bore the clickbait text:
“MARBIL KUMANTA NA? LEAK VIDEO PINAKITA NA? TORRE SEBAK SA PNP? LAGLAGAN NA BAHO NI DIWATA BINISTO!
(Marbil spoke up? Leak video revealed? Torre axed from PNP? Betrayal now, wrongdoings of Diwata uncovered)!”
Its headline read: “Yari si TOREE LagLagan na? Bumalig Tad si MARBIL Umamin nasa mga Du30? Palasy0 S0brang Pahi Ya-Dit0? (Torre is finished, they are betraying each other now? Marbil flipped, admitted to the Dutertes? Palace was embarrassed by this)?
Torre, who officially assumed his role as chief of the police force on June 2 following Marbil’s retirement, remains in his post. There is no announcement from the Palace that the former Criminal Investigation and Detection Group head was removed as head of the PNP, or as a member of the police force altogether.
The video merely played a commentary from a previously fact-checked vlogger, who claimed that Marbil criticized Torre during a press conference for his supposed lack of qualifications for the job. This is false.
The clip of Marbil’s press briefing shown in the video was taken from UNTV and showed him praising Torre’s leadership skills, and not finding fault with him.
Uploaded by YouTube channel PINAS NEWS INSIDER, the erroneous video received 103,804 interactions.
