NICOLAS TORRE lll IS NEW PNP CHIEF – PALACE

POLICE Major General Nicolas Torre III has been named as the new Philippine National Police (PNP) chief.

In a press briefing in Malacañang on Thursday, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin announced that President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has chosen Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Director Torre III to be the next top cop of the country.

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

Bersamin said the turnover of command will take place on June 2.

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.

Torre also spearheaded 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.”

TORRE APPOINTMENT BASED ON MERIT, PROFESSIONALISM

Bersamin said President Marcos’ decision to appoint Torre as the incoming PNP chief was based on merit and professionalism.

According to Bersamin, promotions are given on merit as he disclosed that President Marcos had to choose from among five candidates for the PNP’s top post.

“Alam mo, lahat ng promotion ay reward ‘yan. But most promotions are given on merit. So let us assume that this was given on merit because, you know, it was not an easy decision on the part of the President,” Bersamin said.

“He considered, to my recollection, five names… but as of this time, the decision was already made and it favored the Police Major General Torre,” he added.

The Executive Secretary was asked whether the successful high-profile police operations Torre recently led have earned him the appointment as the PNP chief.

“Alam mo si Presidente always demands performance. Kahit na ano iyong pinagawa sa iyo, you must exhibit a high degree level of performance,” Bersamin said.

Bersamin said Torre displayed professionalism in the operations he was entrusted with. “He (Torre) was given an assignment. He went at it like it was an ordinary thing. Very professional.”

The Executive Secretary said Torre’s promotion would not cause demoralization among other contenders for PNP chief since the police organization’s leaders are all professional.

“They are all very great professionals, very decorated individuals, so they just follow the Commander-in-Chief or what the President desires,” Bersamin said.