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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.
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