Ex-PNP chief Torre: Early retirement one of his options as leave ends October 31

Former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police General Nicolas Torre III said early retirement is one of his options as his official leave is set to end on October 31.

According to an exclusive report of GMA Integrated News’ Marisol Abdurahaman on Unang Balita on Wednesday, Torre pointed out that he has to observe first before making the decision.

“Saka na natin pag-iisipan (We will think about it later). Wala pa namang...there's still nothing on the horizon so far,” Torre told GMA Integrated News.

“Those are one of the many options. Those are among the options. That's among the options available sa atin. Let's observe first before we make the decision,” he added.

When asked about his plan after his leave, Torre said, “Let's cross the bridge when we're there. Wala pa, may mga two weeks pa (Nothing so far, I still have two weeks).”

Torre was relieved from his post as PNP chief on August 25. He was replaced by Police Lieutenant General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr.

Torre took over as the 31st PNP chief on June 2, just for around two months and three weeks. He would have had around one year and seven months left to serve as the PNP chief before reaching the retirement age on March 11, 2027.

He became the first alumnus of the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) to lead the police organization.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla has said one of the reasons Torre III was relieved as PNP chief was his defiance to an order of the National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) on the reassignment of key officials.

In September, President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. said Torre was removed as PNP chief after the top cop ''did not agree with the directives that were coming out of NAPOLCOM."

“There is a very clear chain of command that a civilian authority is the over winning authority when it comes to the police. Because the police is essentially – technically a civilian organization. And NAPOLCOM is the civilian authority that has the authority to monitor,'' Marcos said.

''It has powers – very specific powers in terms of the appointments, and that’s why they disagreed. And we cannot – you know alam naman natin uniformed service ‘yan kailangan masundan ang (we all know that it's a uniformed service so it has to follow the) chain of command. So, that’s why…'' he added.

Remulla had disclosed that Torre is being considered for another government post. In a separate BBM Podcast, Marcos said there was no loss of confidence in Torre.

No offers so far

According to Torre, he has not received any official offer for a government post.

"Saka na lang natin desisyunan kung ano ang ating gagawin ‘pag may offer na talaga," Torre said.

(We will just decide when we actually get an offer.)

Torre, as the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) chief, led the arrest of former president Rodrigo Duterte and his transport to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, Netherlands on March 11 to face charges of crimes against humanity case in connection with his administration’s war on drugs.

As Police Regional Office 11 (PRO 11) chief, Torre led the capture of Kingdom of Jesus Christ founder Apollo Quiboloy on September 8, 2024 in Davao City over charges of human trafficking and sexual exploitation of minors. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News