Torre, Duterte camp clash over chartered flight for ex-president

Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Director Maj. Gen. Nicolas Torre III clashes with members of Duterte’s camp over whether the latter could be taken out of Villamor Airbase on a chartered flight on Tuesday, March 11, 2025. (Screengrab from Veronica Duterte/Instagram)

MANILA, Philippines — Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Director Maj. Gen. Nicolas Torre III and the camp of Rodrigo Duterte clashed over the police plan to take the former president out of Villamor Airbase on a chartered flight.

In an Instagram story by Duterte’s daughter, Veronica “Kitty” Duterte, Torre was heard saying: “Ganito sinasabi ko (This is what I’m saying): we can do this the hard way, we can do this the easy way.”

“The easy way is for you to choose three people to accompany PRRD (President Rodrigo Roa Duterte) to the plane. May pass diyan (There’s a pass there), and they will go into the plane,” the CIDG chief added.

Duterte’s former executive secretary Salvador Medialdea and another member of their camp responded: “Ang inaano lang namin (What we are advocating for is)… let us follow the rules.”

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