Torre's MMDA appointment settles four-star rank issue at PNP — NAPOLCOM

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December 26, 2025 | 5:08pm

MANILA, Philippines — Former Philippine National Police chief Nicolas Torre III took his oath of office as the new general manager of the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) before the Office of the Executive Secretary on Friday, December 26.

This raises the question: what happens to his four-star rank as a general, which is typically held by the incumbent police chief?

According to the National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM), which exercises administrative control over the PNP, Torre’s acceptance of the appointment is "ipso facto" or considered a resignation from the police force, resulting in the loss of his four-star rank.

The commission said this clears the way for PNP Chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez to receive his "well-deserved" four-star rank, an issue that had lingered after Torre was relieved in August, since he remained active in the police service and was not due to retire until March 2027.

"This provides that much-needed clarity in the PNP, as Nartatez has full operational accountability and leadership responsibilities for months now," NAPOLCOM Vice Chairperson and Executive Officer Rafael Vicente Calinisan said. 

Calinisan added that he is "looking forward" to the day Marcos dons the four-star rank to Nartatez, who has been PNP chief for four months now. 

While Torre’s exit from the PNP was tied to an alleged conflict with the National Police Commission, the commission said it remains supportive of his reassignment to the MMDA.

Marcos revealed in one of his podcasts in September that Torre was relieved after he refused to comply with the NAPOLCOM's order to reverse the reassignment of senior PNP officials, which included Nartatez. 

Though his tenure as police chief lasted nearly three months, Torre made history as the first Philippine National Police Academy graduate to assume the post. He's particularly known for having led high-level arrests when he was chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG). 

Some of these arrests include alleged trafficker and sex offender Apollo Quiboloy in Davao City in 2024 and former president Rodrigo Duterte at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in March 2025.

Marcos appointed Torre as the MMDA's new general manager on December 19, replacing Procopio Lipana.