Nicolas Torre takes voluntary one-month unpaid leave
Metropolitan Manila Development Authority general manager Nicolas Torre III has gone on a voluntary one-month unpaid leave from public office, effective Tuesday, Sept. 8.
On Tuesday, MMDA chairman Atty. Romando S. Artes said in a press briefing that over the weekend, Torre contacted him about going on a two-week leave, which was extended to a month.
The topic came up after Artes assigned Torre a work task.
"Then he asked me kung okay lang na siya 'yung gumawa ng trabaho, at kung may tiwala pa 'ko sa kanya. Ang naging sagot ko sa kanya, hindi deretsong, 'Oo, meron,' o, 'Wala.' Ang sabi ko sa kanya is, 'Just do the job but...lie low.' Dahil alam naman natin may issue at maraming bumabatikos," Artes said.
On Sept. 4, Torre admitted he owns the private vehicle that was caught using the EDSA Busway. He was in the vehicle with his driver.
After the weekend, Torre approached Artes in the latter's office and said he was planning to retire from public service.
"Ang naging tugon ko sa kanya, 'Pag-isipan mo muna...tutal you're planning to file for leave of absence...During the time na naka-leave ka...pag-isipan mo kung ano 'yung magiging desisyon mo'," Artes said, clarifying that Torre would not be receiving a salary while he is on leave.
"Malaki po ang naitulong ni GM Torre sa akin dito, especially sa day-to-day operations ng MMDA," Artes said. "Alas singko pa lang, nandito na siya sa office. Late na siguro 'yung 6:00. Tapos talagang nakatutok siya habang may bagyo, even 'yung mga traffic situations."
"Itong single incident na 'to, although nagkamali siya, ina-admit naman niya, should not define 'yung kanyang public service record," Artes added.
On talk that he is giving Torre special treatment, Artes said he has no disciplinary authority over the former PNP chief, who is a presidential appointee. He only has the "authority to suspend pursuant to an administrative investigation," which, he said, is being done by the Land Transportation Office.
Artes added it would be pointless to impose a preventive suspension on Torre since the investigation is being done by a separate agency.
Further, Torre's infraction involved only one of MMDA's seven mandates, said Artes.
Still, he admitted that Torre had no authority to add decals and blinkers onto the vehicle.
Torre has since paid the P14,000 fine for the violations.
