By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos | Philippine News Agency
Former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Nicolas Torre III on Friday took his oath as the new general manager of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA).
Executive Secretary Ralph Recto administered the oath at his office at Malacañan Palace, according to a video shared to Palace reporters by the Office of the Executive Secretary (OES).
Torre’s appointment was announced last week, a few months after he was removed as PNP chief for refusing to comply with a National Police Commission order to reverse the reassignment of senior police officials.
The MMDA is tasked with planning, supervising, regulating, and implementing policies, programs, and projects that address metro-wide concerns in coordination with local government units in Metro Manila.
Torre is the first alumnus of the Philippine National Police Academy to lead the PNP, belonging to the “Tagapagpatupad” Class of 1993.
A career police officer with over three decades of service, Torre has held key positions in the PNP, including chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), where he oversaw high-profile operations and cases.
He is credited with the arrest of Kingdom of Jesus Christ pastor Apollo Quiboloy in Davao City and managing the turnover of former President Rodrigo Duterte to the International Criminal Court.
Torre previously led the Davao region police, Western Samar Provincial Police Office, and Batangas City and Mabalacat police stations.
Torre’s career also includes leadership roles in intelligence and field operations, including stints in the Central Luzon and Mimaropa police.
Meanwhile, National Police Commission vice chairperson and Executive Officer Rafael Vicente Calinisan said Torre is “ipso facto resigned” from the police force after accepting his appointment.
“With the appointment of [General] Torre to the MMDA and his acceptance of the post, he has ipso facto resigned from the police force,” Calinisan said.
Calinisan said acting PNP chief PLt.Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. will become the force’s full-fledged chief upon donning his four-star rank.
“This is a very welcome development as this paves the way for Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez, Jr. to get his well-deserved four-star rank, which accompanies his original appointment as Chief of the Philippine National Police,” Calinisan said.
“I commend Gen. Nartatez for his exceptional leadership and unwavering commitment to professionalizing the PNP,” he added. (With reports from Lloyd Caliwan / PNA)
