CIDG chief willing to testify at Sara Duterte impeachment trial

Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) chief Police Major General Nicolas Torre III said Sunday that he was willing to testify at Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment trial if called to do so.

Torre, the former Police Regional Office 11 (Davao Region) director, said he would take orders from the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the prosecution panel handling the impeachment case.

“Sa ngayon, let me not put the cart before the horse because ang mga investigation against kay VP Sara ay joint palagi na ginagawa ng NBI at saka ng PNP CIDG under the offices of the DOJ. Depende sa kung ano ang magiging pananaw ng DOJ at saka ng mga prosecution panel kung kailangan nila ang testimony namin,” Torre said during a Kapihan sa QC forum.

(Let me not put the cart before the horse. The investigations against VP Sara are always conducted jointly by the NBI and PNP-CIDG under the DOJ. It will depend on the DOJ and the prosecution panel if they need our testimony.)

“Pero syempre ‘pag pinatawag kami, at bilang CIDG chief, ‘pag pinatawag ako to testify on the matters that I’ve investigated, obviously I have no other course but to appear in the impeachment court kung kinakailangan,” he added. 

(But if we are called, as CIDG chief, I have no choice but to appear in the impeachment court if necessary.)

Last week, Torre filed a complaint against Duterte’s father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, over his "kill" remark against incumbent senators.

During Torre's time as PRO 11 director, Vice President Duterte criticized the police for alleged "gross abuse of power" in serving an arrest warrant against Pastor Apollo Quiboloy in Davao City.

The House of Representatives impeached Duterte on February 5, with over 200 lawmakers endorsing the complaint. — DVM, GMA Integrated News