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Shockwaves Hit Manila: Duterte's Arresting Officer, Nicolas Torre III, Named New PNP Chief
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He arrested a former President. Now, he leads the police. Police Major General Nicolas Torre III, the man behind the recent shocking arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte, has been named the new chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP). This is a dramatic shift at the very top of Philippine law enforcement.
Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin made the big announcement at a Palace press conference on Thursday. General Torre will take over the PNP on June 2nd. He replaces General Rommel Marbil, who is set to retire next year.
Torre is no stranger to the spotlight. As head of the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), he oversaw many high-profile cases. This included the arrest of alleged sex offender Apollo Quiboloy. But his most talked-about action was surely the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte in March 2025. This was based on an International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant. Duterte was then quickly sent to The Hague. This arrest alone cast a long shadow over the political landscape.
Was this why Torre was chosen? Bersamin played down the direct link. He said the President always looks for "performance." "The President demands results," Bersamin stated. He hinted that Torre might have other good qualities. Bersamin was firm that the President's choice is "absolute" and cannot be questioned. He called the decision "inscrutable." This means the reasons are hidden and unexplainable.
General Torre has faced scrutiny in the past. His time as police chief in Quezon City sparked talk after a press conference for a former policeman involved in a road rage incident. He also led the tense standoff when trying to arrest Apollo Quiboloy in Davao City. During that time, police were even accused of digging a hole on Quiboloy's property, an action that drew anger and calls for investigations.
Despite these past events, Bersamin promised the public a "smooth transition." He said the change ensures stability. "This is not a clean-up," he said, easing fears of political moves. Bersamin stressed that these changes show the President's vow for a government that "works fast" and "delivers results" for the Filipino people.
The President, Bersamin added, will not hesitate to make needed changes to keep the government moving forward.
In the same announcement, the Palace also named Shirley Agrupis as the new chair for the Commission on Higher Education. Darlene Berberabe will now serve as the new Solicitor General. These changes mark a clear move to redefine leadership across several key government offices.
In a stunning move that has rocked Philippine politics, Senator Imee Marcos has recommended criminal charges against high-ranking government officials involved in former President Rodrigo Duterte's controversial arrest and ICC transfer. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee report, rel eased Tuesday, points to a "clear pattern" of politically motivated actions against the Duterte family, according to Committee Chair Marcos. "The arrest of former President Duterte was part of a whole-of-government effort to bring down the Dutertes," Marcos declared during a tense press conference following the report's publication. Five top officials now face serious allegations: Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla allegedly sanctioned an invalid administrative arrest, potentially violating anti-graft laws Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla reportedly pushed police officials to act against the law PNP Chief Rommel Marbil faces possible arbitrary detention charges ...
Ombudsman Orders Remullas and 4 Others to Respond to Duterte Arrest Complaint In a shocking development, the Office of the Ombudsman has ordered five high-ranking government officials to respond to a complaint filed by Senator Imee Marcos' Committee on Foreign Relations regarding the legality of former President Rodrigo Duterte's arrest and transfer to the International Criminal Court. The officials, including Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla, PNP chief Gen. Rommel Marbil, PNP-CIDG chief Nicolas Torre III, and Special Envoy for Transnational Crimes Markus Lacanilao, have been given 10 days to file a counter-affidavit . According to Marcos, her panel's investigation uncovered acts by these officials that "very likely constitute criminal and administrative offenses." The complaint alleges that the officials played a role in Duterte's arrest and transfer to The Hague, which may have violated Philippine laws and interna...
A whisper of fear has swept into a full-blown storm: Vice President Sara Duterte says she believes her name is on the International Criminal Court’s arrest list . During a tense media interview, Duterte revealed that the thought struck her while visiting her father, ex-President Rodrigo Duterte, in The Hague, where he faces charges of crimes against humanity. “I’m on the list; there are many of us on the ICC list,” she said, her words carrying the weight of uncertainty and dread. At first, Duterte was allowed to see her father daily. Then, the visits were cut back. Every conversation, she claims, was recorded by the ICC. “It felt like every word was being watched,” she told reporters, her voice steady but her eyes betraying concern. She isn’t alone in her worry. Duterte named Senators Bato dela Rosa and Bong Go, along with retired generals Oscar Albayalde and Vicente Danao , as others who might be targeted. “My name comes after theirs,” she added, hinting at a list that grows longer a...
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