Nicolas Torre III is next PNP chief – Palace

By Darryl John Esguerra, Philippine News Agency

Torre will replace outgoing PNP chief Gen. Rommel Marbil who is set to retire on June 7. (PNA file photo by Robinson Niñal Jr.)

MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has chosen Criminal Investigation and Detection Group Director Maj. Gen. Nicolas Torre III to be the next chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP).

Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin announced the President’s choice in a press briefing in Malacañang on Thursday.

The turnover of command will take place on June 2, according to Bersamin.

Torre will replace outgoing PNP chief Gen. Rommel Marbil who is set to retire on June 7.

A member of the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) Tagapagpatupad class of 1993, Torre also served as the director of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) and the Davao Regional Police Office where he led the successful arrest of Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) leader Pastor Apollo Quiboloy after a 16-day extensive police operation.

He also led the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte and his turnover to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in the Hague, Netherlands amid the investigation of the alleged crime against humanity in the country during the implementation of his drug war.

Torre will reach the mandatory retirement age of 56 on March 11, 2027.

He will be the 31st PNP chief and the fourth under the Marcos administration.

The President earlier said his directive to the incoming chief of the 228,000-strong national police force is to sustain ongoing efforts to maintain peace and order, citing a recent decline in crime rates as evidence of progress.

Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez welcomed Torre’s appointment, describing the incoming PNP chief as a “no-nonsense leader with the courage, integrity, and operational command needed to lead the force at a crucial time.”

“General Torre is stepping into this role with a record that speaks for itself. He is a principled and fearless officer, the kind of leader the PNP needs to restore credibility, enforce the law without fear or favor, and protect the Filipino people with professionalism and respect,” Romualdez said in a statement.

“His steady hand in critical situations shows he is not only unafraid to act, but also committed to doing so within the bounds of the law. That kind of leadership is rare, and exactly what the police force needs today.”

Romualdez said the House of Representatives is ready to support Torre’s leadership by ensuring the PNP has the necessary legislative tools and resources to carry out its mandate effectively.

“We are fully behind General Torre’s vision of a PNP that is professional, transparent and people-centered. The challenges ahead are immense, but with the right leadership, we can build a safer, more just Philippines,” he added.

 (With reports from Lloyd Caliwan/PNA)