Nicolas Torre
Police General Nicolas Torre | |
|---|---|
 Torre in 2025 | |
| Chief of the Philippine National Police | |
Designate | |
| Assuming office June 2, 2025 | |
| President | Bongbong Marcos |
| Succeeding | Rommel Marbil |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Nicolas Deloso Torre III March 11, 1970 Jolo, Sulu, Philippines |
| Alma mater | Philippine National Police Academy |
| Police career | |
| Service | Philippine National Police |
| Divisions |
|
| Service years | 1993–present |
| Rank |  Police General |
Nicolas Deloso Torre III (born March 11, 1970) is a Filipino police major general who serves as the director of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG). A graduate of the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) class of 1993, Torre previously served as the chief of police in Samar province, 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 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.
Early life and education
[edit]Nicolas Deloso Torre III was born on March 11, 1970 in Jolo, Sulu. He graduated from the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) in 1993.[1]
Police career
[edit]
Early career
[edit]Sometime after graduating from the PNPA, Torre served as the provincial director of Samar Provincial Police Office until he was dismissed in 2019, the reason of provincial board is because of his failure of leadership to fight criminality and joining in a partisan political activities. 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
[edit]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.[2] His stint was controversial due to hosting a press conference for retired Patrolman (PO1) Wilfredo Gonzales,[3] who is known for gun-toting a cyclist in Welcome Rotonda.[4][5] He appealed to the public for "compassion" and to "stop crucifying" Gonzales,[6][7] but he later apologized for giving "VIP treatment" to Gonzales.[8] Torre was also accused by the cyclist's lawyer Raymond Fortun that he texted the lawyer to dismiss the case against Gonzales.[9] He later dismissed the accusations,[10] and he resigned and replaced by Brigadier General Rederico Maranan.[11]
PNP National Headquarters
[edit]He served as director of PNP Headquarters' Communications and Electronics Service (CES).[12]
Davao Region Police Office
[edit]He was reassigned in Davao Regional Police Office (PRO-11) on June 16, 2024, as acting director.[12] He was notable for leading the arresting Apollo Quiboloy from Quiboloy's Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) compound at Davao City. Due to KOJC members locking and guarding the gate and the police barricading that resulted to a standoff. City mayor Baste Duterte questioned the integrity and legality of the police operations. He also insisted that the police will pursue the search "until Quiboloy is found".[13] After the voluntary surrender of Quiboloy,[14][15] He told the Senate that authorities were allowed to pursue the search, as a Pasig court issued an alias warrant of arrest against Quiboloy.[16] He later stated the police's willingness to serve arrest without any casualty if Quiboloy surrenders.[17]
After the visit and during the Senate hearing, he was forced to admit that they dug a hole with the presence of engineers, an architect present, and even hired civilians dressed in PNP uniforms. Senator Bato Dela Rosa and the KOJC are planning to file cases against the PNP for such actions.[13]
CIDG
[edit]After Quiboloy's arrest, he was assigned as director of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group.[18] Torre executed the International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant for former president Rodrigo Duterte who was immediately transported to The Hague on 11 March 2025.[19]
Chief of the Philippine National Police
[edit]On May 29, 2025, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has chosen Torre as the new PNP chief replacing Rommel Marbil.[20] Torre is the first graduate of PNPA to be appointed as PNP Chief.
References
[edit]- ^ a b 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.
- ^ "9 PNP generals assume new posts". Journalnews. August 12, 2022. Retrieved January 1, 2024.
- ^ Argosino, Faith (August 30, 2023). "QCPD chief quits for hosting presser with dismissed cop in road rage case". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
- ^ Mark Ernest, Villeza (August 28, 2023). "Gun-toting driver surrenders to Quezon City Police District". The Philippine Star. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
- ^ Villamente, Jing (August 29, 2023). "Road rage driver a dismissed QC cop". Daily Tribune. Retrieved August 29, 2023.
- ^ Boiser, Abby; Mangosing, Frances (August 29, 2023). "Ex-cop in road rage clip stripped of gun license". Philippine Daily Inquirer.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Bordey, Hana (August 28, 2023). "QCPD chief to reach out to cyclist in viral video for possible filing of charges". GMA News Online. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
- ^ 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. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
- ^ "PNP public info head Maranan named QCPD chief". Philippine News Agency.
- ^ a b Francisquete, David Ezra M. (June 17, 2024). "PRO-Davao welcomes Torre III as acting RD". SunStar Publishing Inc. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
- ^ a b 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.
- ^ Gomez, Herbie (September 8, 2024). "KOJC's Apollo Quiboloy 'surrenders' to AFP intelligence service". Rappler. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
- ^ Argosino, Faith (September 8, 2024). "Apollo Quiboloy has been arrested – DILG chief Abalos". Inquirer.net. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
- ^ 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.
- ^ RITA, JOVILAND (August 8, 2024). "Quiboloy still inside KOJC compound in Davao City —police". GMA News Online. Retrieved August 28, 2024.
- ^ Bolledo, Jairo (September 25, 2024). "Nicolas Torre, Davao's top cop who led Quiboloy arrest, is new CIDG chief". Rappler. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Boledo, Jairo (May 29, 2025). "CIDG chief Nicolas Torre III is new PNP chief". Rappler. Retrieved May 25, 2025.