Opinion

Bato expected personal loyalty from NSA Año, CIDG Gen. Torre

GOTCHA - Jarius Bondoc - The Philippine Star

March 21, 2025 | 12:00am

Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa broadcast Wednesday his grudge against National Security Adviser Eduardo Año:

“Out of courtesy lang sana on the part of Secretary Año, sana kumontak man lang siya doon (Hong Kong) sa mga staff ni President Duterte, ‘Pakisabi lang na aarestuhin namin siya pag-uwi niya’.”

It reveals a sad view of public office – that it must be personal, not professional.

A retired AFP chief, Año was named President Bongbong Marcos’ NSA on Jan. 14, 2023. Bato assumed that Año was among the few officials who planned Rodrigo Duterte’s arrest upon return from Hong Kong last week.

Duterte had entrusted Año with secretaryship of interior and local government for three and a half years, Jan 5, 2018 to June 30, 2022. Bato was Duterte’s Davao City police chief January 2012 to October 2013, then PNP chief July 2016 to April 2018. Año is from Philippine Military Academy Class of 1983; Bato, 1986.

If Bato is to be followed, Año should have repaid Duterte’s trust with personal loyalty:

“Hindi ko siya didiktahan ko’ng anong gawin niya. Pero ano ba naman kung kaibigan mo, pinagkatiwalaan ka nu’ng tao. Ngayon nandiyan na sa sitwasyon na ganyan.

“Ayun lang ikinasama ng loob ko. Hindi ko ikinasama ang loob na ginampanan niya ‘yung kanyang trabaho sa gobyerno ngayon. It’s more of personal, not official. More on the personal level ang aking tampo.”

Nothing in Año’s job description as NSA requires fealty to past bosses. The Administrative Code states in Title VIII National Defense, Chapter 2 National Security Council, Section 8 Duties of Director (Adviser):

“Among other duties, [he] shall advise the President on matters pertaining to national security and, whenever directed by the President, see to the implementation of decisions and policies adopted by the President or the National Security Council which have implications on national security.”

Nothing in the Constitution requires personal allegiance either. In fact, Article XI, Accountability of Public Officers, Section 1 states:

“Public office is a public trust. Public officers and employees must, at all times, be accountable to the people, serve them with utmost responsibility, integrity, loyalty and efficiency; act with patriotism and justice, and lead modest lives.”

* * *

Bato is sore at PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group Director Nicolas Torre, who arrested Duterte upon Manila airport landing:

“I would just like to tell him, ‘Huwag sana tayong magpakalasing sa power because all these things shall pass. Walang forever dito. Temporary yung power mo ngayon na sigang-siga ka, na kaya mong pagsabihan yung former president na, hihilahin ko yan. That’s too much… Someday you’ll step down from power and maramdaman mo yan ku’ng anong treatment sayo ng taumbayan.’”

Torre last March 11 had a tight deadline to meet. His mission was to serve Duterte an International Criminal Court arrest warrant, then put him on a chartered flight to The Hague.

But Duterte, common-law wife Honeylet Avanceña and their daughter Veronica Duterte stalled the operation. Roused by news broadcasts on the events, Duterte supporters were gathering outside the airport complex.

Several times Duterte and Avanceña badgered Torre, and Veronica cussed him on air. Torre just laughed it off and told the TV reporter that young Veronica had some growing up to do.

When departure time came and Duterte again questioned the arrest, Torre replied that he would carry the 79-year-old ex-president into the jet if necessary. Bato saw that as impertinence.

But as the Filipino adage goes, “walang personalan, trabaho lang.”

Torre graduated from the PNP Academy in 1993. Bato made him Samar PNP provincial chief in 2017. Torre then rose to operations chief of PNP National Capital Region.

Under BBM, Torre became Quezon City police chief, PNP Communications and Electronics Service head, then Davao regional director. After arresting Duterte’s friend and spiritual adviser pastor Apollo Quiboloy for sex trafficking, he was made CIDG chief.

Before all that, Torre was DOST high school scholar and Mapua University engineering grad.

* * *

“Interpol bulls**t, Interpol bulls**t!” Bato yelled at a pro-Duterte demonstration in Quezon City, March 15.

He was referring to the International Criminal Police, which ICC tasked to enforce Duterte’s arrest. Interpol in turn transmitted the 15-page warrant to PNP, its local branch.

As member, PNP relies on Interpol to nab fugitives from Philippine justice. In turn, PNP cooperates with Interpol searches in the Philippines. The Philippine Center on Transnational Crime coordinates them.

ICC is investigating Bato’s role in Duterte’s crimes against humanity. Once it issues Interpol a warrant, PNP will arrest him too.