Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Police General Nicolas D. Torre III delivers his speech as the 31st Chief of the Philippine National Police during the PNP Change of Command Ceremony at Camp BGen Rafael T. Crame in Quezon City on June 2, 2025.   PNP Photo

Article (news)

PNP CHIEF  TORRE

Michael Delizo

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/175616735699520250604-pnp-chief-nicolas-torre-PNP2.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Police General Nicolas D. Torre III delivers his speech as the 31st Chief of the Philippine National Police during the PNP Change of Command Ceremony at Camp BGen Rafael T. Crame in Quezon City on June 2, 2025. PNP Photo</span></span></span></div><p>MANILA<strong> (3rd UPDATE) </strong>— Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Nicolas Torre III was relieved from his post, barely 3 months since he took the helm of the police force.</p><p>President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. sought to uphold the authority of the National Police Commission (Napolcom), among other reasons, in removing Torre, Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla said. </p><p>Torre earlier disregarded a Napolcom resolution that blocked his order to reassign some PNP officials, including his successor, PLt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr.</p><p>Nartatez, who was the PNP’s Deputy Chief for Administration, had been <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/6/pnp-reassigns-2nd-highest-ranking-cop-to-mindanao-0931">reassigned by Torre </a>as Area Police Commander (APC) for Western Mindanao.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/18/torre-breaks-silence-after-napolcom-blocks-pnp-reshuffle-bid-1231">Torre breaks silence after Napolcom blocks PNP reshuffle bid</a></div><p>&quot;The President believes that national security apparatus must always work within the framework of the law,&quot; Remulla said. </p><p>&quot;With the recent developments, the President must be presented with the facts and he determined that the best course of action is to uphold the role of Napolcom as it was intended by law,&quot; he said at a news conference in Camp Crame in Quezon City.</p><p>Remulla added that Torre&#x27;s removal was &quot;difficult but necessary&quot; and made &quot;in the national interest.&quot;</p><p>&quot;The President is committed to ensuring a unified direction and collaboration across all areas in his Cabinet, particularly those responsible for delivering security, peace, and order,&quot; he said.</p><p>He clarified that Torre has not been charged with any administrative or criminal case and did not commit any violation.</p><p>According to Remulla, the four-star general was given the option to retire and is also being considered for another Cabinet post.</p><div><iframe width="1100" height="619" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/atn9JIxqPBg" title="PNP chief Torre relieved from post, Jonvic Remulla confirms" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>NARTATEZ TAKES OATH </strong></div><p>Nartatez immediately assumed command on Tuesday and took oath as office-in-charge before Remulla.</p><p>He is a member of the Philippine Military Academy Tanglaw-Diwa Class of 1992 and is set to retire in March 2027.</p><p>&quot;General Nartatez has served the PNP with distinction, much less with honor and with integrity.  The president, while ruminating through papers and through the qualifications, saw that Gen. Nartatez was best qualified to be the next chief PNP,&quot; said Remulla.</p><p>The officer-in-charge was given one month to present a comprehensive national security plan.</p><p>In his assumption speech, Nartatez said Torre’s programs, including the <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/6/4/pnp-chief-vows-5-minute-response-to-911-calls-in-metro-manila-1215">police five-minute response time</a>, would continue.</p><p>He vowed to pursue proactive crime prevention, emphasizing his goal of ensuring that people can walk the streets safely and without fear.</p><p>&quot;The Philippine National Police is a dynamic organization. We are covered by orders and covered by policies. And as a fine Filipino public servant, na minsan ay isang sundalo, susunod lang tayo kung ano ang ibibigay na utos, especially, this is a general order,&quot; Nartatez told reporters in a chance interview.</p><p>Asked if there was a rift that led to the shakeup, Nartatez said there was no conflict he was aware of. </p><p>&quot;I don’t find any conflict or mga away. Basta we follow orders,&quot; he said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>REACTIONS</strong></div><p>Sen. Panfilo Lacson, a former PNP chief, said Torre acted “beyond his authority” when he unilaterally &quot;relieved&quot; Nartatez. </p><p>Lacson noted that the designation and relief of the members of the PNP Command Group should be cleared with the President or at least the ex-officio chairman of the National Police Commission.</p><p>&quot;Having said that, the relief of PGen. Nicolas Torre III is the sole prerogative of the President of the Philippines. What is important at this point is a smooth transition and transfer of command and authority so as not to hamper the overall mission of the PNP to continue maintaining peace and order for the benefit of the people whom they have sworn to &#x27;serve and protect,&#x27;&quot; he added.</p><p>Meanwhile, Rep. Leila de Lima questioned Torre&#x27;s sacking.</p><p>&quot;What&#x27;s happening?! They better have a good reason in doing that to a very popular, much appreciated and high-performing PNP Chief!&quot; De Lima said.</p><p>Torre was appointed as the head of the PNP earlier this year after former PNP chief Gen. Rommel Marbil retired from service in June.</p><p>Torre was the 31st PNP chief and the 4th head of the agency under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/regions/2024/9/27/new-cidg-chief-torre-to-continue-probe-on-quiboloy-angels-of-death-2334">New CIDG chief Torre to continue probe on Quiboloy, &#x27;Angels of Death&#x27;</a></div><p>He made headlines for leading the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte, and for launching a raid in televangelist and suspected child abuser Apollo Quiboloy’s compound in Davao City<span style="background-color:transparent">.</span></p><div><br/></div><div><span style="background-color:transparent"><strong>RELATED VIDEOS: </strong></span></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nJ1dDGof5YM?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/13kgvxtcxXo?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Nicolas Torre III was relieved from his post, barely 3 months since he took the helm of the police force, according to an order from Malacañang.</p>

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Nicolas Torre III was relieved from his post, barely 3 months since he took the helm of the police force, according to an order from Malacañang.

Torre sacked as PNP chief as Marcos backs Napolcom authority

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Torre sacked as PNP chief as Marcos backs Napolcom authority

Michael Delizo,

ABS-CBN News

Published Aug 26, 2025 08:13 AM PHT

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Updated Aug 26, 2025 05:28 PM PHT

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