Nicolas Torre

Last updated

Nicolas Torre
Chief of the Philippine National Police Nicolas Deloso Torre III.jpg
Official portrait, 2025
31st Chief of the Philippine National Police
In office
June 2, 2025 –August 25, 2025
Service years1993–present (vacation leave)
Rank Philippines-Police-OF-9.svg Police General

Nicolas Deloso Torre III (born March 11, 1970) is a Filipino former police officer who served as the 31st chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) from June 2025 until his removal in August that same year. He is the first Philippine National Police Academy graduate to hold the office. With a tenure of 85 days, he is also the shortest-serving chief of the PNP.

Contents

Torre previously served as the chief of police in Samar, Quezon City, and Davao Region. In the last role, he led the police attempt to serve an arrest warrant against Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, founder and leader of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ church, who was charged with human trafficking. In March 2025, as Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) chief, Torre arrested former president of the Philippines Rodrigo Duterte based on a warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for alleged crimes against humanity. He also imposed a five-minute rule for police response to emergency calls. He was removed on August 26, 2025, after Napolcom on August 14 directed him to revise the reassignment of 13 officials, including his eventual successor.

Early life and education

Nicolas Deloso Torre III was born on March 11, 1970, in Jolo, Sulu, [1] and grew up in Koronadal, South Cotabato. His father, Rodolfo "Dolping" Molarto Torre, was a master sergeant of the Philippine Constabulary, while his mother, Julia Deloso, was a teacher. His parents were originally from Iloilo: his father was from Tigbauan, while his mother was from Dumangas. [2] He is the eldest of five children, and the only one to grow up to become a police officer. [3]

Nicolas Torre attended the Notre Dame of Marbel in his hometown for his elementary studies, and graduated as a valedictorian. At the Koronadal National Comprehensive High School, he graduated as a salutatorian. A beneficiary of a scholarship program by the Department of Science and Technology, Torre entered the Mapúa Institute of Technology's electronics and communications engineering program to accomplish the 72 prerequisite college academic units to be able to enroll in the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA). He considered pursuing a career as an engineer instead but persisted with his original plan to enroll in the PNPA. [3]

The elder Torre was assassinated in 1990 in Lutayan, Sultan Kudarat. [3]

The younger Torre graduated from the PNPA in 1993 as part of the Tagapaglunsad Class. [4]

Police career

Torre as Director of PNP Police Regional Office 11. PRO-XI-chief Nicolas Torre.jpg
Torre as Director of PNP Police Regional Office 11.

Early career

Torre was assigned at the Quezon City Police District sometime in the 2000s. In 2005, he led a demolition operation in Fairview to reclaim a private property allegedly occupied by armed persons and squatters. The police team, under Torre's command, was met with resistance and an hour-long shootout, resulting in the deaths of four individuals. Firearms and explosives were later recovered from the scene. [5] [6]

Torre served as the provincial director of Samar Provincial Police Office from 2017 to 2019.

During his time as provincial director, he had a feud with Calbayog mayor Ronaldo Aquino. In 2018, he filed criminal cases against the mayor for libel and grave misconduct before the Ombudsman, and an administrative complaint before the National Police Commission seeking to remove the mayor’s control over the local police. [7] [8]

Aquino was later killed in 2021 during an alleged shoot-out with Samar police. During a Senate investigation on the killing, a police officer claimed that Aquino's political rivals in collusion with the police, had falsely linked the mayor to the drug trade. [9] The witness recalled being told to execute an affidavit accusing Aquino of being the protector of a police escort involved in illegal drugs, and afterwards, forwarding a photo of the affidavit to the then-police provincial director Torre. [10]

He was declared persona non grata by the Calbayog City Council in a vote of six ayes, three nays, and one abstention. The reason of the council is because of his failure of leadership to fight criminality and joining in a partisan political activity during the early election campaign. [11] [12]

In January 2019, Torre was at the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) in Metro Manila as regional director for operations. [1]

Quezon City Police District

After his stint in NCRPO, he was intended to be appointed commandant of the PNPA, but was later assigned as chief of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) on August 12, 2022. [13] His stint was controversial due to hosting a press conference for retired Patrolman (PO1) Wilfredo Gonzales, [14] who is known for gun-toting a cyclist in Welcome Rotonda. [15] [16] He appealed to the public for "compassion" and to "stop crucifying" Gonzales, [17] [18] but he later apologized for giving "VIP treatment" to Gonzales. [19] Torre was also accused by the cyclist's lawyer Raymond Fortun that he texted the lawyer to dismiss the case against Gonzales. [20] He later dismissed the accusations, [21] and he resigned and replaced by Brigadier General Rederico Maranan. [22]

PNP National Headquarters

He served as director of PNP Headquarters' Communications and Electronics Service (CES). [23]

Davao Region Police Office

He was assigned to the Davao Regional Police Office (PRO-11) on June 16, 2024 as acting director. [23] In his post, Torre attempted to implement a three-minute emergency response policy for police personnel in Davao City. [24] Torre's reassignment of more than 100 police personnel in the regional police office led to Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte denouncing him for "disrupting peace" in Davao. [25] and after questioning the accuracy of the city's crime data, Duterte threatened to slap him. [26]

On August 20, 2024, Torre revealed during a hearing before the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs that a Pasig trial court has issued a new alias warrant of arrest against Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, leader of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) church, which allows the PNP to continue its search of the KOJC compound in Davao City which had stalled since its initial June 10 operation. [27] Torre had previously expressed his belief that Quiboloy was still in the compound, and encouraged him to surrender to avoid having his followers defend him at their own expense. [28] By August 24, 2024, Torre began the renewed operation to arrest Quiboloy for qualified human trafficking along with four of his alleged accomplices. [29] A two-week standoff occurred between the police and KOJC members at the church's compound in Davao City due to KOJC members attempting to obstruct police operations. Mayor Duterte questioned the legality of the police operation, while Senator Ronald dela Rosa, a former PNP chief, expressed opposition to its lengthened duration "at the expense of the freedom of movement of the persons inside". [30] After the capture of Quiboloy on September 8, 2024, [31] [32] Quiboloy's lawyer Ferdinand Topacio attempted to argue that his client "voluntarily surrendered" to the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and was not arrested by the PNP. [29]

CIDG

Torre was assigned as director of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) on September 25, 2024. [33] During his tenure, Torre led the inter-agency operation to arrest former president Rodrigo Duterte, codenamed Operation Pursuit, [34] in response to an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant transmitted by Interpol. Duterte was apprehended upon arrival in Manila and transported to The Hague on March 11, 2025. [35] Torre also briefly arrested and handcuffed former Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea for alleged obstruction of justice, when the latter tried to block Duterte from boarding the plane and dared Torre to arrest him. [36] Torre had planned the entire arrest operation beforehand upon being assigned the responsibility for Operation Pursuit, asking PNP officials to allow him to "succeed and fail on my plans. Because if I succeed, I succeed based on my plans. If I fail, I fail on my plans also, so there's no one else to blame but me." [37]

In April 2025, Torre also directed the arrest of Russian-American vlogger Vitaly Zdorovetskiy, who was charged for his disruptive and inappropriate behavior towards Filipinos on his livestreams. [38]

On July 30, 2025, the former 13th Division of the Court of Appeals released its July 21 decision deeming Torre and four other CIDG officers as accountable for the agency's negligence in the slow investigation into the disappearance of activist Felix Salaveria Jr. on August 23, 2024. [39]

Chief of the Philippine National Police

On May 29, 2025, President Bongbong Marcos chose Torre as the new PNP chief replacing Rommel Marbil. [40] Torre is the first graduate of PNPA to be appointed as PNP Chief. The position has been previously filled by graduates from the Philippine Military Academy (PMA). [41] He formally assumed office in June 2, 2025. [42] Three days later, Torre began implementing a 5-minute response policy for PNP officials in Metro Manila. [43] By June 9, Torre made an unprecedented courtesy visit to the Commission on Human Rights, where he affirmed the CHR's oversight function over the PNP by stating that "The CHR is our boss on the protection of human rights." [44]

On July 20, 2025, Davao City acting mayor Sebastian Duterte on his Basta Dabawenyo podcast dared Torre to a fistfight after calling his three-minute policy an opportunity for police "harassment" in the city, with him calling Torre a "coward" and accusing him of kidnapping his father Rodrigo Duterte. [45] [46] Upon being informed of the dare by a UNTV reporter on July 23, Torre immediately accepted Duterte's challenge as an opportunity to hold a charity boxing match to raise funds for victims of recent floods. [47] Torre later confirmed that the match would take place on July 27 at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum in Manila. [48] However, Duterte later set conditions that Torre must persuade President Marcos to mandate hair follicle drug tests for all elected officials, with Duterte departing for Singapore on July 25 for a personal trip until July 29, stating it was long planned before the match and was approved by Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla on July 20. [49] [50] On July 27, Torre was declared the winner by default in the match after Duterte failed to appear. [51]

Torre made a reorganization on August 6, 2025, which includes the reappointment of Deputy Chief for Administration Jose Melencio Nartatez as Area Police Command (APC) Western Mindanao commander. However on August 14, the National Police Commission ran by concurrent interior secretary Jonvic Remulla ordered Torre to revise his reappointment modify the reassignment of 13 senior officers. [52] [53] The 18 regional directors of the PNP signed a manifesto in support of Torre and the chain of command in response to the Napolcom order, without explicitly mentioning the directive itself. [54]

Torre introudced a five-minute response policy. Under said policy the police is mandated to respond to a 911 emergency call made anywhere nationwide within five minutes. [55] [56] [57]

On August 26, 2025, Torre was officially relieved as Chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) through an order signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin on behalf of President Marcos The order, dated August 25, 2025, directed that Torre's relief was to take effect "immediately". [58] The Napolcom directive back in August 14 was among the factors for his removal. [52] His tenure only lasted in 85 days. [59] [60]

Former Deputy Chief Nartatez was appointed as Officer in Charge of the PNP. [61] Torre filed a leave of absence. [62]

Personal life

Torre is a former member of Iglesia ni Cristo. [63]

References

  1. 1 2 Ching, Mark Angelo (March 16, 2025). "Who is PNP-CIDG Major General Nicolas Torre III?". PEP.ph (in Filipino). Philippine Entertainment Portal, Inc. Retrieved March 20, 2025.
  2. ↑ Silubrico, Ruby P. (May 31, 2025). "PRO-6 pledges support to new PNP chief, an Ilonggo". Panay News. Retrieved June 4, 2025.
  3. 1 2 3 Bolledo, Jairo (April 9, 2025). "Nicolas Torre's journey from South Cotabato to Camp Crame". Rappler. Retrieved June 1, 2025.
  4. ↑ Tupas, Emmanuel (June 2, 2025). "Torre will deliver results in anti-crime campaign – Remulla". The Philippine Star. Archived from the original on June 1, 2025. Retrieved June 2, 2025.
  5. ↑ Cerezo, Candice (December 15, 2005). "4 killed, 4 wounded in Quezon City shootout". The Manila Times . pp. A3.
  6. ↑ Yap, Dj (December 15, 2005). "4 killed in land dispute". Philippine Daily Inquirer . pp. A24.
  7. ↑ Traya, Justine (August 28, 2018). "Calbayog City Mayor Aquino, ginpasakahan hin kaso nga kriminal han PNP Samar Director". RMN Networks. Archived from the original on March 15, 2025. Retrieved March 14, 2025.
  8. ↑ Malabanan, Jess (August 31, 2018). "Samar PNP, Calbayog chief exec on war path". iOrbit News Online. Archived from the original on March 15, 2025. Retrieved March 14, 2025.
  9. ↑ Gonzales, Cathrine (June 9, 2021). "Cop says Calbayog City mayor's political rival behind drug protector claims". INQUIRER.net. Archived from the original on March 18, 2025. Retrieved March 14, 2025.
  10. ↑ Bordey, Hana (June 9, 2021). "Witness claims slain Calbayog mayor's rival behind drug links allegations". GMA News Online. Archived from the original on March 18, 2025. Retrieved March 14, 2025.
  11. ↑ Desacada, Miriam Garcia (May 23, 2018). "Samar PNP head declared 'persona non grata' in Calbayog". Philstar.com. Archived from the original on March 10, 2025. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
  12. ↑ Desacada, Miriam (January 15, 2019). "Samar cop chief replaced". Philstar.com. Archived from the original on September 20, 2024. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
  13. ↑ "9 PNP generals assume new posts". Journalnews. August 12, 2022. Archived from the original on March 13, 2025. Retrieved January 1, 2024.
  14. ↑ Argosino, Faith (August 30, 2023). "QCPD chief quits for hosting presser with dismissed cop in road rage case". INQUIRER.net. Archived from the original on September 20, 2024. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
  15. ↑ Villeza, Mark Ernest (August 28, 2023). "Gun-toting driver surrenders to Quezon City Police District". The Philippine Star . Retrieved August 28, 2023.
  16. ↑ Villamente, Jing (August 29, 2023). "Road rage driver a dismissed QC cop". Daily Tribune . Archived from the original on August 29, 2023. Retrieved August 29, 2023.
  17. ↑ Boiser, Abby; Mangosing, Frances (August 29, 2023). "Ex-cop in road rage clip stripped of gun license". Philippine Daily Inquirer .
  18. ↑ Ranara, John Patrick (August 27, 2023). "Man who drew gun on cyclist regrets act, but requests social media users to be responsible". PhilstarLife . Retrieved August 28, 2023.
  19. ↑ Galang, Bamba (August 30, 2023). "QCPD chief resigns after drawing flak for presscon with gun-toting ex-cop". CNN Philippines . Archived from the original on August 30, 2023. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
  20. ↑ Bordey, Hana (August 28, 2023). "QCPD chief to reach out to cyclist in viral video for possible filing of charges". GMA News Online . Archived from the original on September 20, 2024. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
  21. ↑ Abarca, Charie (August 28, 2023). "QCPD chief: No attempts to block cyclist's bid to file case vs retired cop in road rage". INQUIRER.net. Archived from the original on September 20, 2024. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
  22. ↑ "PNP public info head Maranan named QCPD chief". Philippine News Agency.
  23. 1 2 Francisquete, David Ezra M. (June 17, 2024). "PRO-Davao welcomes Torre III as acting RD". SunStar Publishing Inc. Archived from the original on June 17, 2024. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
  24. ↑ Lacorte, Germelina (August 3, 2024). "3-minute police quick response to boost Davao City Emergency 911". Inquirer.net . Davao City: Inquirer Interactive, Inc. Retrieved July 31, 2025.
  25. ↑ Francisquete, David Ezra M. (August 6, 2024). "Davao City mayor criticizes Torre for 'disrupting peace' in Davao". SunStar . SunStar Publishing Inc. Retrieved July 31, 2025.
  26. ↑ Recuenco, Aaron (August 11, 2024). "Davao City politician's threat to slap Torre angers PNPA graduates". Manila Bulletin . Manila Bulletin Publishing Corporation. Retrieved July 31, 2025.
  27. ↑ Gomez, Herbie (August 20, 2024). "New arrest warrant out as police continue search for Apollo Quiboloy". Rappler . Cagayan de Oro, Philippines: Rappler Inc. Retrieved July 31, 2025.
  28. ↑ Rita, Joviland (August 8, 2024). "Quiboloy still inside KOJC compound in Davao City —police". GMA News Online. Retrieved July 31, 2025.
  29. 1 2 Gavilan, Jodesz (September 8, 2024). "TIMELINE: Saga of KOJC's Apollo Quiboloy, from temporary detainment in Hawaii to Davao 'surrender'". Rappler . Retrieved September 9, 2024.
  30. ↑ Suelto, Diana Lhyd (September 7, 2024). "Bato slams long stay of police at KOJC compound". The Philippine Star . Archived from the original on September 7, 2024. Retrieved September 7, 2024.
  31. ↑ Gomez, Herbie (September 8, 2024). "KOJC's Apollo Quiboloy 'surrenders' to AFP intelligence service". Rappler . Archived from the original on September 8, 2024. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
  32. ↑ Argosino, Faith (September 8, 2024). "Apollo Quiboloy has been arrested – DILG chief Abalos". Inquirer.net . Archived from the original on September 8, 2024. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
  33. ↑ Bolledo, Jairo (September 25, 2024). "Nicolas Torre, Davao's top cop who led Quiboloy arrest, is new CIDG chief". Rappler . Archived from the original on September 25, 2024. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
  34. ↑ Wee, Sui-lee; Elemia, Camille (March 20, 2025). "'Operation Pursuit': Inside the High-Stakes Arrest of Rodrigo Duterte". The New York Times . Retrieved March 20, 2025.
  35. ↑ Torre on Duterte arrest: I did my job within the bounds of the law | ANC. ABS-CBN News Channel. March 14, 2025. Retrieved March 19, 2025– via YouTube.
  36. ↑ Cabato, Luisa (March 13, 2025). "Medialdea arrested, handcuffed before Duterte flight to Hague – CIDG chief". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on April 10, 2025. Retrieved June 27, 2025.
  37. ↑ Bolledo, Jairo (March 22, 2025). "It Took a Nicolas Torre to Haul Rodrigo Duterte to The Hague". Rappler . Retrieved March 26, 2025.
  38. ↑ Recuenco, Aaron (April 2, 2025). "'Di umubra kay Torre': CIDG arrests Russian YouTuber for 'harassing' Pinoys for content". Manila Bulletin . Retrieved June 4, 2025.
  39. ↑ Bautista, Jane (July 31, 2025). "CA flags Torre, other cops' 'laxity' in Bicol activist's case". Inquirer.net . Manila, Philippines: Inquirer Interactive, Inc. Retrieved July 31, 2025.
  40. ↑ Boledo, Jairo (May 29, 2025). "CIDG chief Nicolas Torre III is new PNP chief". Rappler. Retrieved May 25, 2025.
  41. ↑ Tupas, Emmanuel (May 30, 2025). "Torre, who led Duterte arrest, is new PNP chief". The Philippine Star. Archived from the original on June 1, 2025. Retrieved June 1, 2025.
  42. ↑ "Torre assumes office as 31st PNP chief". Cebu Daily News. Philippine Daily Inquirer. June 2, 2025. Archived from the original on June 3, 2025. Retrieved June 2, 2025.
  43. ↑ Tupas, Emmanuel (June 5, 2025). "PNP sets 5-minute crime response in Metro manila". Philstar.com . Retrieved July 31, 2025.
  44. ↑ Mateo, Janvic; Villeza, Mark Ernest (June 10, 2025). "WITH VIDEO | PNP Chief: CHR Is Our Boss In Protecting Rights". One News . Retrieved June 15, 2025. Gen. Nicolas Torre III made history on Monday, June 9, as the first Philippine National Police chief to pay a courtesy visit and attend the Commission on Human Rights' flag-raising ceremony.
  45. ↑ CM Baste Duterte (July 20, 2025). Basta Dabawenyo Season Premiere. YouTube (in Filipino, Cebuano, and English). Google LLC. Event occurs at 1:09:15. Retrieved August 6, 2025. Sanay na kami sa iyo [Torre]. Kinidnap mo nga yung tatay [Rodrigo Duterte] ko, eh.[...] Kasi matapang ka lang naman... you have the position, eh. Pero gusto mo suntukan tayo? Alam ko naman kaya kita, kung gano'n lang. Pero, you're a coward. You are nothing without your position, sa totoo lang.
  46. ↑ Sigales, Jason (July 23, 2025). "Baste Duterte dares PNP chief to a fistfight; Torre accepts the challenge". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved July 26, 2025.
  47. ↑ UNTV News and Rescue (July 23, 2025). "Hamong suntukan ni VM Baste Duterte, tinanggap ni PNP chief; boxing for a cause, okay kay Gen. Torre" [VM Baste Duterte's fistfight dare accepted by PNP Chief; boxing for a cause OK for Torre]. YouTube (in Filipino). Google LLC . Retrieved August 6, 2025.
  48. ↑ Laqui, Ian (July 24, 2025). "Torre confirms boxing match with Baste Duterte, but mayor sets conditions". Philstar.com. Retrieved July 26, 2025.
  49. ↑ Lacorte, Germelina; Sarao, Zacarian (July 25, 2025). "Fight or flight response? Baste Duterte goes to Singapore". Inquirer.net. Retrieved July 26, 2025.
  50. ↑ De Leon, Richard (July 27, 2025). "'Congrats Diwata Torre!' Baste, pinagduldulan travel authority form kay Torre" (in Filipino). BALITA National. Retrieved July 27, 2025.
  51. ↑ Argosino, Faith (July 27, 2025). "Gen. Torre wins by default in boxing match with Baste Duterte". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved July 27, 2025.
  52. 1 2 Sigales, Jason (August 26, 2025). "Napolcom order on PNP revamp leads to Torre's relief – DILG chief". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved August 26, 2025.
  53. ↑ Bolledo, Jairo (August 15, 2025). "Friction? Napolcom reverses PNP's recent appointments of generals, colonels". Rappler. Retrieved August 26, 2025.
  54. ↑ Sigales, Jason (August 22, 2025). "Torre to convene officer placement board amid Napolcom revamp order". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved August 26, 2025.
  55. ↑ Argosino, Faith (August 12, 2025). "LOOK: Torre demonstrates to Marcos PNP's 5-minute emergency response". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved August 26, 2025.
  56. ↑ "PNP chief showcases 911 emergency response system". Philippine Information Agency. August 11, 2025. Retrieved August 26, 2025.
  57. ↑ Tolosa, James (August 26, 2025). "Remulla: Unified 911, 5-minute response ng PNP tuloy pa rin" [Remulla: Unified 911, 5-minute response of PNP to be still in place]. Abante (in Filipino). Retrieved August 26, 2025.
  58. ↑ Cabato, Luisa (August 26, 2025). "Nicolas Torre relieved as PNP chief". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved August 26, 2025.
  59. ↑ Sigales, Jason (August 26, 2025). "Knocked out in 85 days: Nicolas Torre III's brief stint as PNP chief". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved August 26, 2025.
  60. ↑ "Philippine police chief sacked after just 84 days in record-short tenure". South China Morning Post. August 26, 2025. Retrieved August 26, 2025.
  61. ↑ Sigales, Jason (August 26, 2025). "Nartatez takes over as OIC of PNP after Torre's sudden relief". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved August 26, 2025.
  62. ↑ Lalu, Gabriel Pabico (August 27, 2025). "Torre files leave of absence after being ousted as PNP chief". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved August 27, 2025.
  63. ↑ NET25 (August 28, 2024). Sa Ganang Mamamayan - August 28, 2024. YouTube (in Filipino). Google LLC. Event occurs at 1:13:52. Retrieved July 31, 2025. Sapagkat ngayon po ay hindi po kaanib sa Iglesia ni Cristo si General [Nicolas] Torre. Dati po siyang kaanib sa Iglesia ni Cristo.{{cite AV media}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.