The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) on Tuesday welcomed the appointment of Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Maj. Gen. Nicolas Torre III and expressed support for his leadership toward professional and accountable policing.
In a statement, the CHR acknowledged Torre’s directive that all police actions must remain within the law and be subject to checks and balances. It also took note of his recent remark citing the number of arrests as a performance metric, urging caution.
The Commission warned that emphasizing arrest numbers could pressure officers to prioritize quantity over quality, potentially leading to shortcuts, abuses, or arbitrary practices that erode public trust.
It stressed that effective policing is better measured through quality investigations, adherence to due process, and the consistent upholding of legal and ethical standards.
The CHR encouraged Torre to issue clear, rights-based performance guidelines to prevent discriminatory practices and safeguard civil liberties, especially among vulnerable sectors.
