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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Joke time: ex-PNP chief Torre says he's now a food delivery guy

Joke time: ex-PNP chief Torre says he's now a food delivery guy

Published Aug 27, 2025 06:19 pm

At A Glance

  • Philippine National Police (PNP) chief General Nicolas Torre III visited Mamamayang Liberal (ML) Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima at the House of Representatives on Wednesday, Aug. 27 on the occasion of her 66th birthday.
Former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief General Nicolas Torre III (PPAB)
Former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief General Nicolas Torre III (PPAB)


What was former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief General Nicolas Torre III doing at the House of Representatives of all places on Wednesday afternoon, Aug. 27?
Apparently he is now in the food delivery business, and his first customer is birthday celebrant Mamamayang Liberal (ML) Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima.
This is all part of Torre's joke, of course.
"Sa tanong sa kumusta ako, OK, nandito, naghahanap-buhay (As to the question of how I'm doing, OK, I'm here, earning a living)," he said.
When asked by a House reporter what he meant exactly, Torre said tongue-in-cheek:
"Pumasok ako sa...food delivery, at nakatanggap ako ng message sa aking app. At nakita ko na birthday cake, so I delivered it (I was working...in food delivery, and I received a message on my app. I saw that it was a birthday cake order, so I delivered it).
"Nagkataon pala birthday ni Congressman De Lima, so nagulat ako na, nadala kong cake sa kanya. Naki-'happy birthday' na rin ako (It turned out it was Congressman De Lima’s birthday, so I was surprised that I ended up delivering the cake to her. I also greeted her ‘happy birthday’)," he said.
So what did he tell De Lima? 'Ma'am, cake delivery po," said Torre, who was still "in character".
"Seriously speaking, when I was the Chief PNP, Congressman De Lima was among the first visitors in my office...She visited me and we talked about things. So, I just reciprocated the gesture. I found out that it's her birthday today.
"Actually alam ko matagal na (Actually I've always known about it). I just really wanted to wish her well on her birthday," he said.
But Torre really did buy the lady solon a cake. "A simple cake," he noted.
De Lima, a former senator, turned 66 on Wednesday.
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