Camille Naredo

Interior and Local Government Secretary Juanito “Jonvic” Remulla holds a press conference at Camp Crame in Quezon City on Tuesday, August 26, 2025, confirming the order issued by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., through Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, relieving PGen. Nicolas Torre III as PNP Chief.   Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Karen De Guzman

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/175673387274920250826-dilg-remulla-torre-relieved-MT8 (1).jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Interior and Local Government Secretary Juanito “Jonvic” Remulla holds a press conference at Camp Crame in Quezon City on Tuesday, August 26, 2025, confirming the order issued by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., through Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, relieving PGen. Nicolas Torre III as PNP Chief.   Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Interior and Local Government Secretary Juanito “Jonvic” Remulla holds a press conference at Camp Crame in Quezon City on Tuesday, August 26, 2025, confirming the order issued by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., through Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, relieving PGen. Nicolas Torre III as PNP Chief.  <em>Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla on Monday denied a rift with former PNP chief General Nicolas Torre III over an ₱8-billion firearms procurement bid.</p><p>In a press conference, Remulla addressed the circulation of a document supposedly asking for a budget insertion of P8 billion for the purchase of 80,000 assault rifles for the PNP.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/28/dilg-denies-torre-s-removal-due-to-refusal-to-purchase-firearms-2342">READ: DILG denies Torre&#x27;s removal due to refusal to purchase firearms</a></div><p>“There was a request that landed on my table asking for me to sign a congressional insertion of P8 billion worth of rifles for the use of the PNP. I immediately reply that the DILG, hindi kami pwede mag bid ng ganung klase ng bagay,” Remulla said.</p><p>He said he referred the matter to Torre, stressing that only the PNP chief had the competence to determine whether the firearms were needed.</p><p>Torre also reportedly refused to sign the document which allegedly triggered the dispute. Remulla denied this, however, saying the PNP chief was never ordered to sign the request. He added both of them agreed the rifles were not needed.</p><p>“Nag-usap kami at sabi niya, ‘Sir, we do not need the rifles. We are 95% compliant with the requirements of the PNP. At para bumili pa tayo, ay hindi na kailangan.’ I concurred with him. Nag-agree kami. So that was never part of the reason,” Remulla said.</p><p>The DILG chief further explained that the proposal did not come from his office but from a member of Congress, whose identity he chose not to disclose.</p><p>He added that he has never approved any congressional insertion outside the National Expenditure Program (NEP) of the President.</p><p>“Basta po, insertion, I made it very clear to the President na hindi ko siya pipirmahan. In this case, insertion siya. Kaya sinabihan ko si General Torre, dahan-dahan siya kasi siya magiging recommending authority,” he said.</p><p>“Kami ni chief Torre, as I told you, we have a great relationship. Ngayon, pinag-aaway kami ang tingin ko.”</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/29/torre-don-t-pity-me-pity-the-flood-victims-1446">READ: Don’t pity me; pity the flood victims -- Torre</a></div><p>Meanwhile, Acting PNP Chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. underscored that the police organization strictly follows its annual work and financial plan.</p><p>“Kung meron tayong insertion not legislated with that fiscal year, of course ill-planned. Kasi meron kaming plano presented that was legislated in 2025. For 2026, maybe we can consider if funds will be introduced to the PNP for certain activities na kailangan,” Nartatez said.</p><p>Remulla said he is prepared to present the necessary documents before Congress but has no intention of filing charges against those spreading what he called false information.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/a62r97nVTrY?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div>

<p>Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla on Monday denied a rift with former PNP chief General Nicolas Torre III over an ₱8-billion firearms procurement bid.</p>

Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla on Monday denied a rift with former PNP chief General Nicolas Torre III over an ₱8-billion firearms procurement bid.

Remulla denies rift with Torre over alleged P8-B firearms fund insertion request

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Remulla denies rift with Torre over alleged P8-B firearms fund insertion request

Karen De Guzman,

ABS-CBN News

Published September 01, 2025 09:41 PM PHT

|

Updated September 01, 2025 11:48 PM PHT

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DILG

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Jonvic Remulla

Nicolas Torre III

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firearms

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