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MANILA, Philippines 鈥� The National Police Commission (Napolcom) expressed its support for new Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Nicolas Torre III鈥檚 proposals to institutionalize a three-minute response time and eight-hour work shifts for police officers.
Torre made the suggestions in his speech and a press briefing after he assumed office as the nation鈥檚 police chief in a ceremony in Camp Crame on Monday
鈥淣apolcom Vice Chairperson and Executive Officer Rafael Calinisan believes that police officers are more effective if their work is not excessive,鈥� Napolcom said in a statement on Tuesday.听
鈥�The Napolcom head also supports the 鈥榯hree-minute response鈥� directive of General Torre to all police officers assigned to all cities or urban areas in the country,鈥� Napolcom added.听
READ: Torre unveils plans for PNP: 3-minute emergency response, tech upgrades
During the briefing, Torre touted that he had already implemented the three-minute response time directive during his stint as the Quezon City Police District director in 2022.
Torre further explained that the proposed eight-hour shift was so that officers 鈥渃ould have more time with their families鈥� but stressed that this would also mean no officers must be caught 鈥渟itting around or staring at their phones.鈥�
Holding cops accountable
Napolcom also reaffirmed its support for the national police organization now under Torre鈥檚 leadership.
鈥淰CEO Calinisan said Napolcom was the PNP鈥檚 partner for meaningful reform to the PNP鈥檚 ranks for the people鈥檚 welfare and the orderly service of the police force.鈥�
READ: PNP chief Torre鈥檚 anti-drug strategy: Ramp up 鈥榣egal鈥� arrests
Torre said the number of drug arrests will be a metric to assess officers鈥� performance under his watch.
When asked if using drug arrests as a metric would incentivize officers to make unlawful arrests, Torre assured that people could resort to the PNP Internal Affairs Service, the Napolcom or the People鈥檚 Law Enforcement Board.