PNP logs 2,000 suicide cases

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Nicolas Torre III yesterday pushed for mental health awareness as he sounded the alarm on the rising number of deaths by suicide, including victims of bullying.

From January to June 2025, Torre said nearly 2,000 Filipinos committed suicide.

“Based on our investigation, some of the cases were victims of both physical and online bullying,” he said at a press briefing at Camp Crame.

According to Torre, he also raised the alarm when he was director of the Quezon City Police District.

“There was a time when 15 people committed suicide in one month,” he said. “That is one in every two days.”

Apart from the usual police response, fire assistance and health emergencies, Torre said the PNP’s unified 911 emergency system can also be a helpline for people dealing with mental health problems.

He said they are in talks with representatives of civic groups, non-government organizations and other volunteers who are willing to assist the police in managing the mental health response of the emergency hotline.

“When you call 911, press four if you want someone to talk to. That will be for mental health,” Torre said.

He ordered the police Anti-Cybercrime Group to investigate what he said is a “sizable number of bullying cases online.”

Torre: Baste a bully

Having been at the receiving end of bullying from acting Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte, Torre wants to focus on bullying to protect the youth and the elderly.

“Ang ilan sa kanila, ‘yan nga, nasisira ang buhay. Ang iba, nagpapakamatay,” Torre said.

As chief of the PNP, Torre said he would never allow Duterte, who called him a monkey in his podcast, to bully him with derogatory remarks.

“Tawagin tayong unggoy –hindi pupuwede yan. Tayo ay Pilipino, tayo ay tao,” Torre said.

Duterte had dared Torre to a fistfight, but he imposed several conditions after the PNP head accepted the challenge.

Duterte did not appear at the charity boxing bout with Torre at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum on Sunday, which raised over P16.3 million in cash donations.

Meanwhile, the Department of Social Welfare and Development thanked Torre for donating the cash to the DSWD.

“The cash donation will go a long way in helping those who were affected by the recent weather disturbances,” DSWD spokesperson Irene Dumlao said.

The cash donation will be turned over to the DSWD this week.

The department has provided P293 million worth of assistance to families displaced by monsoon rain and flooding.