A video circulating on TikTok claims that Philippine National Police – Criminal Investigation Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) Chief Maj. Gen. Nicolas Torre III resigned following the arrest of former president Rodrigo Duterte over charges of crimes against humanity. This is false.
Published on March 16, the misleading video featured a segment from GMA News’ Balitanghali, with text and hashtags that read:
“TORRE NAGRESIGNED NA? #torre #onemindanao #subsaharanafrica #duterte #fpprd #politics”
(TORRE HAS ALREADY RESIGNED? #torre #onemindanao #subsaharanafrica #duterte #fpprd #politics”
Torre did not resign as chief of the PNP-CIDG.
The 22-second clip is from an old Balitanghali news report aired on Aug. 30, 2023, when Torre stepped down as director of the Quezon City Police District following a road rage incident involving a former cop and a cyclist along Quezon Avenue.
According to the original report, Torre resigned to allow for an impartial investigation of the incident.
As of writing, he remains listed as director of the PNP-CIDG on the group’s official website. Neither are there news reports or an announcement of his stepping down.
The false video surfaced after Duterte was arrested on March 11 under a warrant issued by the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity committed during his administration’s war on drugs.
Torre, along with PNP Chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil, led more than 300 police officers in carrying out the arrest at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
VERA Files has previously debunked similar false claims about alleged police resignations. (READ: Dubious FB users churn out posts on PNP ‘mass resignations’).
The video garnered 1.5 million views, 26,200 likes, 3,095 shares, and 2,495 comments.
