MANILA – Police Major General Nicolas Torre III’s arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte and Pastor Apollo Quiboloy might have been considered when he was chosen as the next Philippine National Police (PNP) chief.
According to Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. possibly have considered it, aside from Torre’s other qualifications, in the appointment.
“I’m not going to discount that (the arrest of Duterte and Quiboloy). But maybe there are other qualities of General Torre that he (Marcos) might have considered,” Bersamin said.
“You know, the appointment of the officers of the PNP, they are to be kept confidential. We should respect that confidentiality. But it’s the President’s discretion which I considered to be absolute,” he added.
As chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), Torre led efforts to arrest and transport Duterte to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, Netherlands on charges of crimes against humanity in connection with his administration’s war on drugs.
As Police Regional Office 11 chief, Torre led the capture of Kingdom of Jesus Christ founder Quiboloy in Davao City over charges of human trafficking and sexual exploitation of minors.
Torre served as the Communications and Electronics Service director of the PNP from April 3 to June 17, 2024. He was Quezon City Police District chief from August 8, 2022 to August 30, 2023.
The 54-year-old Torre, who was born in Jolo, Sulu, earned his Bachelor of Science in Public Safety degree at the Philippine National Police Academy in Canlubang, Laguna in 1993.
Torre will replace PNP chief Police General Rommel Marbil, whose extended term is set to expire on June 7. The turnover of command will happen on June 2./PN
