Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has abruptly dismissed General Nicolas Torre III as chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), a move that has stunned observers given Torre’s recent high-profile arrests of former President Rodrigo Duterte and televangelist Apollo Carreon Quiboloy. The termination, effective immediately, was announced on Tuesday by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, who provided no specific reason for the decision.

Torre, appointed by Marcos in May 2025 to lead the 232,000-strong PNP until 2027, was replaced by senior police general Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr., who assumed the role on Tuesday. Bersamin’s letter to Torre, made public, instructed him to ensure a smooth handover of all duties and documents. “This is a presidential prerogative to steer the PNP in a new direction,” Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said at a press conference, emphasizing that Torre faced no criminal or administrative charges. Remulla described Marcos and Torre’s relationship as “wonderful and productive” but stressed that “institutions must outlast individuals,” declining to elaborate further.

Torre’s removal follows reported tensions with government officials over his decision to reassign more than a dozen police officials, including Nartatez, which the National Police Commission ordered reinstated. Sources suggest Torre’s reluctance to comply promptly may have contributed to his ousting. Just days ago, Torre showcased a new anti-crime command center to Marcos, designed to enable rapid police response within five minutes.

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Torre gained prominence for leading the March 2025 arrest of Duterte at Manila’s international airport, pursuant to an International Criminal Court warrant for alleged crimes against humanity tied to Duterte’s deadly anti-drug campaign, which killed thousands of mostly poor suspects. The operation sparked international attention and criticism from Duterte’s allies. Last year, as Davao’s regional police chief, Torre also orchestrated the arrest of Quiboloy, a Duterte ally on the FBI’s most-wanted list for alleged child sex trafficking. The operation faced resistance from Quiboloy’s followers at his Davao compound. Quiboloy remains detained in Manila, facing charges mirroring those in the U.S., with extradition requests pending.

Speculation is rife about political motives behind Torre’s dismissal, with some analysts pointing to pressure from Duterte’s camp, who labeled Torre an adversary. “This raises questions about Marcos’ strategy ahead of the 2028 elections,” a political commentator noted on X. Torre was unavailable for comment, and it remains unclear if he will be offered another role.

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