President Marcos chose history by appointing the first ever graduate of the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) to lead the country's more than 230,000-strong police force.

Since its inception following the enactment of Republic Act 6975 in 1991, all the 30 appointed PNP chiefs, including the incumbent Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil, are products of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA)-- and Police Maj. Gen. Nicolas Torre III is the first “Lakan”, or PNPA graduate, to do it.

A member of PNPA Class 1993, Torre will lead the national police force until March 11, 2027 when he reaches the mandatory retirement age of 56.

He currently heads the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) and will formally be named the 31stChief PNP when Marbil retires on June 7.

Good choice 

And among those elated with his appointment was his former boss, ex-Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) secretary Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos, Jr. who described Torre as “a man of integrity and action” capable of leading the police force.

“General Torre has the experience, discipline, and character to steer the PNP forward. He is the right man for the job,” Abalos said in a statement.

Abalos and Torre worked together during the operation to capture Kingdom of Jesus Christ leader Apollo Quiboloy ibn September last year.

Abalos recalled that during the entire operation to arrest Quiboloy in Davao City and despite various pressures, Torre was “calm under pressure and decisive on the ground,” adding that “his integrity and courage were on full display during that mission.”

“He will lead by example. Torre’s leadership will deepen trust and discipline in the ranks,” Abalos said. 

Another characteristic that sets Torre apart, according to Abalos, is his innovation.

Abalos, who also served as National Police Commission (Napolcom) chairman, recalled that Torre, during his time as Quezon City police chief, was recognized as an outstanding police chief for pioneering the use of drones to enhance police response times and surveillance. 

“That kind of leadership is exactly what the PNP needs today,” he said. 

Aside from Quiboloy, Torre also played a key role in the arrest and transport of former president Rodrigo Duterte to the Netherlands where the latter is facing crimes against humanity case.

‘Nicolas the Bold’

Aside from what the people saw from the videos during Quiboloy and Duterte arrests, Torre also stood his ground when a Davao City official threatened to slap him when he started sacking police commanders in the area for dishonesty in crime-reporting and failure to respond to criminal incidents on time.

Born in Jolo, Sulu, Torre attributed his dream of being a cop to his father whom he idolized since childhood and there’s no doubt that his mother, a teacher, played a key role in building his character to do what is right and stand by it. 

In terms of academic achievements, he graduated elementary class valedictorian at the Notre Dame of Marbel College Koronadal, South Cotabato and class salutatorian at the Koronadal National Comprehensive High School.

He enrolled at the Mapua Institute of Technology taking BS in Electronics and Communications Engineering and as soon as he was admitted to the PNPA as soon as he obtained the required college units to enter the Academy.

He ranked fourth out of the 90 cadets of the PNPA in 1993. 

Torre has three master’s degrees, one in Public Administration at the Philippine Christian University, Business Administration at the International Academy of Management and Economics and Educational Management at the Samar College.

And in all the police training that he went through—including intelligence, civil aviation and urban counter-revolutionary courses—he consistently obtained the top spot in the ranking.

Torre held various positions in the police force across the country, including chief of police of Mabalacat, Pampanga and Batangas City, and provincial director of Samar province, and even chief information officer of the Police Regional Office 4A, or Calabarzon. 

As Quezon City Police District director, Torre successfully implemented the three-minute response of the police.