(Editor’s Note: As the nation expects the change of the top leadership at the Philippine National Police, a deeper understanding of the would-be top choices will be under the radar.
In this story, we will be featuring one topnotch police official who has made a name as President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s possible pick.)
By the Luzonwide News Correspondent Team
DUBBED as a determined, undaunted, and firm police officer, Police Major General Nicolas Deloso Torre III is nearing the peak of his career as a 55-year-old director of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG). And good fate lies ahead.
Born on March 11, 1970 in Jolo, Sulu, General Torre is a Filipino police major general who graduated at the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) under Class 1993.
His colorful career has spanned decades that catapulted him to different places such as chief of police in Samar province, Quezon City, and Davao Region.
Making waves for being unperturbed, Torre III led the police in attempts to serve an arrest warrant against Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, founder and leader of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ church, who was charged with human trafficking.
Even former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte was not spared by Torre’s act to implement the law when he arrested the former based on a warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for alleged crimes against humanity in March 2025.
Praises from netizens, groups
This has earned him praises from netizens and groups who vouched for him as the next PNP chief.
A youth group, Kabataan ng Bagong Pilipinas: “Kung sakali si General Torre ang ipalit, wala siyang uurungan kahit sino pa yan! (If ever General Torre will be the one to be picked, he will not turn back to anyone!)
Netizen George Tercero agrees, saying that Torre III imposed the law he pledged to uphold.
“Pinapairal at tinutupad kung ano ang sinumpaan nya walang kinikilingan, he is a general of the poor,” Tercero added.
For Fel Del Inaldo, he described Torre III as “not a traitor but a law upholder” who did not budge to arrest Apollo Quiboloy and ex-President Duterte.
Villager Benjamin Estrada Baybayan agreed, saying that the said major general is firm on his stand.
“May paninindigan, trabaho lang walang personalan,” he added.
The upbeat Torre has been implementing “reforms, changes, and improvements,” traits that are being envisioned for a new PNP chief. These traits are being yearned, not only by outgoing PNP Chief General Rommel Marbil but also President Marcos Jr.
Torre once served as the provincial director of Samar Provincial Police Office until 2019 and was later transferred to the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) in Metro Manila as regional director for operations in January 2019.
He was later assigned as chief of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) on August 12, 2022. Despite getting negative comments for hosting a press conference for retired Patrolman Wilfredo Gonzales, known for gun-toting a cyclist in Welcome Rotonda, he stood his ground and asked for compassion. He later publicly apologized for allegedly giving VIP treatment to Gonzales.
After his replacement as NCRPO chief, he was appointed director of PNP Headquarters’ Communications and Electronics Service (CES).
Then on June 16, 2024, he was reassigned in Davao Regional Police Office (PRO-11) as acting police director.
Here, he gained admiration—and enemies, as well—for trying to arrest Apollo Quiboloy from the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) compound in Davao City.
After Quiboloy, Torre was assigned as director of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group.
Here, Torre executed the International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant for former president Rodrigo Duterte who was immediately transported to The Hague on March 11, 2025.
They say, the rest is history and Torre III’s firm stand has been giving him the greatest chance to snare the top PNP post. #

Maj. Gen. Nicolas Torre III. (Courtesy: Nicolas Torre III FB)