Marcos relieves PNP Chief Torre, appoints Nartatez

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. relieved Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Gen. Nicolas Torre III from his position on Monday, August 25, with Deputy Chief for Administration Police Lieutenant General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. taking over as the new chief on a permanent basis, confirmed by Department of the Interior and Local Government Juanito Victor 'Jonvic' Remulla on Tuesday, August 26.

Torre served for less than three months before being removed without an explicitly stated reason; Nartatez is Marcos' fifth PNP chief since assuming office.

During Torre's tenure, high-profile arrests included former president Rodrigo Duterte in March and alleged trafficker Apollo Quiboloy between August and September 2024.

Nartatez, a member of the Philippine Military Academy Tanglaw-Diwa Class of 1992, was among the top candidates for PNP chief but lost to Torre. He will retire in March 2027.

The change comes amid brewing conflicts between the PNP and the National Police Commission (Napolcom), which has overturned some of Torre's approved reassignments; Interior Secretary Remulla confirmed that one reason for Torre’s removal was his defiance of an order by NAPOLCOM to reverse certain officer reassignments.