The General Who ‘Forgot’ the Rules

The sudden, unceremonious relief of Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Gen. Nicolas Torre III marks the end of one of the shortest, and perhaps most controversial, tenures in the agency’s history. His three-month stint, defined by high-profile arrests and bold, yet ultimately unilateral, decisions, concluded not with a bang, but with a quiet, firm letter from Malacañang.

While some may view his ouster as a political maneuver, the more discerning take away is a vital lesson in institutional authority and the limits of power. The core reason for Torre’s relief, as articulated by Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla, was his defiance of a National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) order. He had initiated a widespread reassignment of senior officials, including his second-in-command, Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. This move was a clear overreach, as former PNP Chief and Senator Panfilo Lacson was quick to point out. “Torre acted ‘beyond his authority’ by unilaterally relieving his second-in-command, P/Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr.,” Lacson stated, adding that even during his own tenure with a “blanket authority” from a former president, he “did not exercise absolute authority over the designations of the members of the Command Group.”

This is the essential point. Torre’s actions, whether driven by a desire for efficiency or a thirst for control, bypassed the very checks and balances that govern the PNP. As Remulla emphasized in a press conference, the decision was about preserving institutional integrity. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s decision was, in this light, a “difficult but necessary” course correction to uphold the role of NAPOLCOM “as it was intended by law.”

Beyond the bureaucratic breach, Torre’s case serves as a cautionary tale of hubris. His short tenure was marked by a series of publicity-grabbing acts: from leading the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte and televangelist Apollo Quiboloy to accepting and then winning a boxing challenge from Davao City’s Sebastian Duterte by default. He was a general who seemed to thrive in the limelight, a “bulldog enforcer” as former Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo described him, who “follows blindly” the orders of the present administration. This is a fair, if cutting, assessment. Torre’s popularity came from his willingness to be the administration’s face in its most contentious legal battles. Yet, his relief suggests that such a strategy has a clear expiration date.

The immediate fallout raises its own set of questions. The appointment of Nartatez, the very official Torre sought to sideline, as the new PNP chief, creates an awkward dynamic. As Torre still holds the rank of a four-star general and is not yet retired, Nartatez cannot legally hold the same rank. He will remain a three-star Lieutenant General, the highest possible rank for a chief of the PNP unless the position is elevated to four stars, a situation that cannot occur as long as Torre is still on active duty. This creates a complex and unprecedented institutional situation: a de-facto head of the PNP who is outranked by his predecessor. While the Palace and Nartatez himself have indicated a smooth transition, the very existence of a “floating” four-star general until his mandatory retirement in 2027 is a clear sign of the institutional mess Torre’s actions created. It will take more than just a change of command to fully restore stability.

Then came the unexpected twist. Just as the public began to speculate on Torre’s fate—a disgraced general cast into the bureaucratic abyss—Malacañang offered a different ending. The possibility of a new government post for Torre, perhaps in an anti-corruption or investigative capacity, suddenly emerged. This is a pragmatic compromise. It was a clear message that while his defiance as PNP chief was unacceptable, his capabilities and loyalty were still valued.

This decision serves as a masterclass in political damage control. By offering a new role, the administration avoids a complete and public break with a key ally. Instead of a humiliating dismissal that could be viewed as a political purge, Torre’s move is framed as a strategic reassignment. The President gets to enforce the rules and restore institutional integrity without creating a disgruntled former official who could become an unnecessary political enemy.

The move addresses the institutional chaos Torre caused while simultaneously mitigating the political fallout of his removal. It is the government’s way of saying, “We had to fix this, but we’ll do it in a way that minimizes the negative consequences for everyone involved.”

The new PNP chief, Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr., has a heavy burden to bear. His appointment, which Senator Imee Marcos described as being for a man who is “mahusay naman at tapat sa trabaho” (competent and honest in his work), signifies a return to a more traditional, perhaps less flamboyant, style of leadership. His challenge is not just to lead the 232,000-strong police force, but to rebuild a sense of unity and trust within an institution rattled by this sudden change.

Ultimately, the relief of General Nicolas Torre III is a clear statement from the highest office. It’s a reminder that no matter how popular, decisive, or “mission-oriented” an official may be, their authority is not absolute. The system of laws and oversight, however imperfect, must always prevail. For the PNP and the public it serves, this is a firm but necessary lesson in a world where celebrity often overshadows accountability.