'No regrets': Torre stands by role in Duterte’s ICC arrest

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February 23, 2026 | 4:45pm

MANILA, Philippines — On the day former president Rodrigo Duterte begins his confirmation of charges hearing at the International Criminal Court, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority General Manager Nicolas Torre III said he stands by his role in leading Duterte's arrest and transfer to The Hague.

In an interview with Super Radyo DZBB 594 on Monday, February 23, Torre said he does not regret arresting the former president, stressing that he was simply carrying out the rule of law and fulfilling his duty as then chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG).

"Hindi po. Wala ho [na regrets]," he said. "Talaga ho, ‘yung sinabi ko kanina, 'yan ay wala namang halong personal na — walang halong personal na motibo. 'Yan ay propesyonal lang, utos ng batas at 'yun ay kailangan, dapat gawin."  

(No. I have no regrets. As I mentioned earlier, there was nothing personal about it—no personal motive at all. It was purely professional, in compliance with the law, and it had to be done.)

Torre, who was appointed Philippine National Police chief just months after the arrest in March 2025, clarified that his involvement in Duterte's arrest was only done in his professional capacity and was not a result of any personal motive.

Duterte had just returned to the Philippines from a trip to Hong Kong when he was arrested at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. 

Torre maintained that the arrest was lawful even if the Philippines is no longer a party to the Rome Statute, which established the ICC. He said the government acted on a notice from the Interpol, which the country is an active member of, seeking the execution of the ICC-issued warrant. 

'What matters most is due process'

Torre urged Filipinos to recognize and respect the confirmation of charges hearings as part of a "serious and formal process of the law." If anything, Torre stressed that the proceedings are ultimately for the families of those killed in alleged extrajudicial killings during the Duterte administration's bloody war on drugs.

Regardless of differing views on the case, he said, the grief and suffering endured for years by the victims' families cannot be denied.

"Anuman ang paninindigan ng bawat isa sa usaping ito, hindi natin maaaring ipagsawalang-bahala ang sakit at pagdurusa ng kanilang dinanas. Sila talaga ang apektado dito kasi sila nga ang nag-file ng kasong ito," Torre said. 

(No matter what one’s stance is on this issue, we cannot disregard the pain and suffering they have endured. They are the ones truly affected here, as they are the ones who filed the case.)

Most importantly, the former police chief said the pre-trial hearings uphold due process by providing both Duterte and the prosecution a chance to present evidence and witnesses before the judges.

"Well, ang thoughts ko lang talaga diyan, ang mahalaga ay masunod ang due process, manatiling patas ang pagdinig at hayaang gumana ang mga institusyon nang malaya at walang impluwensyang politikal," Torre added.

(Well, my only thought on this is that what matters most is that due process is followed, that the hearing remains fair, and that institutions are allowed to function freely without any political influence.)

Duterte's confirmation of charges hearings are scheduled to take place on February 23, 24, 26 and 27. The ICC prosecution has charged him with three counts of crimes against humanity of murder over at least 76 murders and violent crimes committed from 2013 to 2018.