A Tale of Two Generals

Former General and now Senator Ronald ‘Bato’ de la Rosa, Chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) during President Rodrigo “Digong” Roa Duterte’s brutal war on drugs has met his match in General Nicolas Torre III, the recently fired Chief of the PNP whom the people have given the moniker “The People’s General.”

The two generals have claimed to have served their country faithfully, but their paths diverge in fascinating ways. Bato failed miserably in resisting the temptation of blindly following a violent commander-in-chief. Torre risked his reputation to help restore justice in a society where the powerful act with impunity.

Both generals are well educated, schooled in military science, and whose academic background, among others, must have influenced their decision-making processes and leadership style.

Bato graduated with a degree in public administration from Mindanao State University before he entered the Philippine Military Academy (PMA). He belongs to class of 1986 in PMA with a Bachelor of Science in Military Science degree. His doctoral degree is in Development Administration from the University of Southeastern Philippines. He held various military posts in Davao and other regions and underwent specialized training in intelligence gathering and counterinsurgency.

Torre was the class salutatorian in high school at the Koronadal National Comprehensive High School. He got a scholarship from the Department of Science and Technology and entered Mapua Institute of Technology to become an electronics and communications engineer. But he changed course and instead enrolled in the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) and graduated in 1993. He held various key positions in community policing during his more than 30 years of service until he was appointed by President Bongbong Marcos Jr. as the first non-PMAer to become Chief of the PNP.

I’ve often wondered about the comparisons between Bato and Torre. While both generals were considered by many as proven military officers, at some point the two men has become each other’s direct rival when it comes to how one should rightfully serve the people.

Bato’s iron-first approach to community policing that was evident when he implemented Duterte’s war on drugs was a carryover from the days of America’s Wild Wild West. He was tough. His toughness as the enforcer of Digong’s policy of “kill, kill, kill” led to the killings of close to 30,000 Filipinos who were mostly poor. He remains unrepentant and in his interview with BBC in 2018 said that he was proud of his record.

In one police operation where a three-year old girl died, Bato dismissed the incident saying, “Shit happens.” He later regretted what he said, but it was too late. He had already shown his lack of sensibility as a human being – not a good measure of a general.

Torre is head and shoulder above Bato. His quote: “Let us be clear: The deaths of drug war victims are not as someone famously shrugged, ‘shit happens’” reflects a leadership style that respects human rights. Torre is also tough, but he is levelheaded. After he was unceremoniously dismissed as Chief of the PNP, he said without any trace of vindictiveness, “Sa bawat laban – sa ring man o sa serbisyo – ang tagumpay ay laging para sa taumbayan.”

Both generals differ on how they view the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) probe into Digong’s alleged crimes against humanity.

Bato believes that the ICC’s arrest of Digong was a big mistake because ICC has no jurisdiction to try the former president. He even challenged the ICC to also arrest him. Bato’s undying support for Digong and defiance of the ICC is his way of paying back Digong. Remember that Bato is the protege of Digong that started when the former was deployed in Davao. May utang na loob si Bato kay Digong na hindi nya makakalimutan.

In contrast, Torre led the operation to arrest Digong in response to an arrest warrant issued by the ICC. Senator Imee Marcos said that Torre may be held liable for arbitrary detention, grave misconduct and grave threats. But Torre remained firm and never doubted the legality of his act. He is decisive when justice is at stake. He enforces the law without fear or favor.

It’s the same General Torre who arrested the doomsday preacher Apollo Quiboloy for child abuse and human trafficking, and it’s the same General Bato who harshly criticized Torre for the use of “excessive force” during this police operation. Bato’s bias against Torres came into full- blown when he conducted a Senate investigation right in the compound where the police operation was being held under the pretext of alleviating the suffering of Quiboloy’s cult members. A few days later, because of Torre’s persistence and determination, Quiboloy was flushed out of hiding and arrested.

Bato’s reaction to the firing of Torre was expected. He said, “Galit ako sa kanya sa ginawa kay Pastor Quiboloy at kay Duterte. Pero ngayon naaawa ako sa kanya.”

Torre’s response was swift and more pragmatic: “Wag nyo akong kaawaan...Kun meron man tayong dapat kaawaan, yun ay ang milyun-milyon nating kababayan na paulit-ulit na nagiging biktima ng palagiang pagbaha.” He is not lacking in introspection.

It appears that Torre and Bato are always at the opposite end of the spectrum. However, I do get a sense that when truth is on the line, Torre is always moving forward despite the consequences. He sees the forest, not the trees.

Torre has nothing else to prove. He has a remarkable ability to put his thinking into positive action. He is forward- looking. Bato is flawed because he is stuck supporting a former president with bloodied hands. His main concern is not the truth but what is in the best interest of Digong.

So, who is the better general?