President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. just picked a new leader for the Philippine National Police (PNP). His name is Police Major General Nicolas Torre III. This news was shared by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin on Thursday.
The official change of leadership will happen on June 2.
Who is Nicolas Torre?
Nicolas Torre is a very important police officer. Right now, he is in charge of the group that solves big crimes, called the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group.
He helped catch former President Rodrigo Duterte, who is now being sent to a special international court called the International Criminal Court (ICC). Duterte faces serious charges about human rights.
A Historic Appointment
Torre is special because he is the first person who graduated from the Philippine National Police Academy to become the chief of the whole police force, which has about 228,000 officers! Before him, most police chiefs came from the Philippine Military Academy.
He will take over from Police General Rommel Francisco Marbil, who will retire on June 7. Marbil was supposed to stop working in February because he reached the retirement age of 56, but the President asked him to stay longer to help keep things steady during the elections.
How Did Torre Get Chosen?
Torre was picked from a group of very qualified police officers. He competed against other top officers like Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr., Lt. Gen. Bernard Banac, Lt. Gen. Edgar Alan Okubo, and Maj. Gen. Anthony Aberin.
Before, Torre was the head of the Quezon City Police and also led the Davao Regional Police. In August 2024, he helped catch a religious leader named Pastor Apollo Quiboloy after a tense police standoff.
Was His Appointment a Reward?
Some people wondered if Torre got the top job because of the big arrests he made. But Executive Secretary Bersamin said promotions are mostly about merit—which means they pick the best and most deserving person. He praised Torre for being professional and doing his job well.
He also said the President has the right to choose who leads the police, and he believes this decision won’t upset the other police officers because they are all professionals.
What Do Others Think?
Many lawmakers and leaders praised Torre’s appointment. They said he is a strong and honest leader who can help the police work better and keep people safe.
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Speaker Martin Romualdez said Torre is brave, fair, and knows how to lead in tough times.
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Leila de Lima, a representative, said Torre will help make the police more trustworthy and focused on protecting people’s rights.
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A group called the “Young Guns,” made up of younger lawmakers, said Torre’s leadership will inspire confidence in the police and the Filipino people.
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Gary Alejano, a former representative, said Torre is brave and dedicated to public service. He hopes Torre’s time as chief will focus on unity, human rights, and safety for everyone.
What’s Next?
Torre will officially start his new job as the PNP chief on June 2. The police force and the country are watching closely, hoping he will lead the police to be better and fairer for all Filipinos.
