Ex-PNP chief Torre on retirement: I didn't sign, file any papers

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January 22, 2026 | 12:48pm

MANILA, Philippines — There appears to be confusion surrounding the supposed retirement of former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Nicolas Torre III after he said he neither filed nor signed a request for optional retirement from police service.

Torre, who now serves as the general manager of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), said on Thursday, January 22, that he was puzzled by reports of his retirement from the police.

"I'm going to clear it up with my organization. Wala kasi akong pinipirmahang application (I did not sign any application)," he told reporters in an ambush interview.  

The National Police Commission (Napolcom) on Wednesday, January 21, issued an order approving Torre’s optional retirement and granting him the retirement benefits corresponding to his rank as a four-star general.

Under Republic Act 6975, optional retirement is granted "at his own request and with the approval of the Commission," meaning an officer must formally apply. Regular retirement for a PNP officer or non-officer typically occurs at age 56.

Optional retirement is available only to those with at least 20 years of satisfactory active service. Originally, Torre was supposed to retire in 2027. 

While Torre did not explicitly say he was "surprised" by the order, his responses to the media suggest either a miscommunication or that he may not have been aware of it.

Philstar.com has reached out to Torre, asking whether he was made aware of the Napolcom order before it was released to the media, or if there were any discussions of early retirement with the commission.

For now, Torre said he would take the matter up with his superiors, adding that he has "a lot to clear up" with Napolcom.

"So let's leave it at that muna, kasi mag-usap muna kami ng aking mga boss. Titignan ko muna kung ano nangyari," he told reporters. 

(So let’s leave it at that for now, because I still need to talk to my superiors. I’ll first look into what happened.)

His retirement is expected to pave the way for incumbent PNP Chief Lieutenant General Jose Melencio Nartatez to be promoted to four-star police general.

Since Torre took his oath as MMDA general manager on Dec. 26, 2025, Napolcom has described it as an automatic resignation from the police force.

However, Torre, a presidential appointee, said he will "just wait for the order of the president" regarding his retirement.

Torre served as police chief for only three months in 2025 after he oversaw high-profile arrests, including those of alleged sexual offender Apollo Quiboloy and former president Rodrigo Duterte.

He was relieved by President Bongbong Marcos due to a reassignment order that conflicted with Napolcom directives.