New Philippine National Police PNP chief Maj. Gen. Nicolas Torre III
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� Newly-designated Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Maj. Gen. Nicolas Torre III is one fearless official who can restore public trust and discipline in the police force.
This is the view of House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez expressed on Thursday.
Romualdez, in a statement, described Torre as a 鈥渁 no-nonsense leader with the courage, integrity and operational command needed鈥� to steer the PNP during a crucial time.
The speaker is reacting to the announcement Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin who said that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had picked Torre as the next PNP chief.
READ: Nicolas Torre III, who led Rodrigo Duterte arrest, is new PNP chief
鈥淕eneral Torre is stepping into this role with a record that speaks for itself,鈥� Romualdez noted.
鈥淗e is a principled and fearless officer 鈥� 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,鈥� he added.
鈥淭he PNP gains a chief who understands the urgency of reform from within, but who also brings the operational experience to crack down on crime, dismantle syndicates, and restore public trust,鈥� the speaker further said.
According to Romualdez, Torre has proven himself to be a steady presence during crucial scenarios, ensuring that operations are implemented within the bounds of law.
鈥淕eneral Torre鈥檚 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,鈥� the House leader observed.
鈥淭hat kind of leadership is rare, and exactly what the police force needs today,鈥� Romualdez concluded.
Torre was previously the police chief of the Quezon City Police District and the National Capital Region Police Office.
He figured in recent high-profile police operations.
In September 2024, Torre led the Davao Police Regional Office in a 16-day operation to search for Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KJC) founder Apollo Quiboloy.
Quiboloy was facing child abuse and human trafficking cases.
Torre said on September 3 that it might take around a month to search the intricate networks of rooms and passageways inside the KJC compound, where Quiboloy was believed to be hiding.
After the successful operation which led to Quiboloy鈥檚 surrender, Torre was promoted, named acting director of PNP鈥檚 Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG).
READ: Police official who led hunt for Quiboloy promoted聽
Then as CIDG chief, Torre and his men were tasked to assist the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) in enforcing an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest order against Quiboloy鈥檚 known ally, former President Rodrigo Duterte.
The arrest order was related to the charges of crimes against humanity against Duterte for his role in his administration鈥檚 war against illegal drugs.
On March 11, Duterte was barred by local police from leaving the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 after coming from Hong Kong.
Police escorted him, instead, to the Villamor Air Base.
READ:
Torre apologized to the public for seemingly giving Duterte a special treatment.
He explained that they have decided to give in to some of Duterte鈥檚 demands so that peace and order would be ensured during the arrest./apl