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Andrew Ronquillo - The Philippine Star
May 23, 2026 | 12:00am
Former Philippine National Police chief Nicolas Torre III
PNA / Robinson Niñal Jr.
MANILA, Philippines — Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) general manager Nicolas Torre III is ready to join the manhunt for Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, if President Marcos orders him to do so as a “special assignment.”
“If the president asks, there would be no choice, right?” Torre told the Kapihan sa Manila Hotel.
The former Philippine National Police chief took the lead in the arrests of former president Rodrigo Duterte for alleged crimes against humanity and Kingdom of Jesus Christ founder Apollo Quiboloy for alleged human trafficking.
Torre said that even without Marcos’ order, he would still assist in the search for Dela Rosa if it falls within MMDA jurisdiction, stressing that he is part of the government that is pursuing the senator.
The MMDA, Torre said, would comply with the request of Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida for copies of the closed-circuit television footage around the Senate premises to get a fuller picture of Dela Rosa’s departure from the building on May 14.
“Whatever the investigating office needs and whatever the other government agencies need, the MMDA is ready to offer it. We will give them all the information that is on our database,” Torre said.
He emphasized that the manhunt should be institutional and devoid of any personal or political considerations.
“Authorities themselves are saying that the (International Criminal Court) warrant is legal and you can implement that,” he said. “I think we have to respect the process, let the systems work.”
Torre underscored that as a law enforcer, authorities cannot choose which laws they can implement or not.
“At the end of the day, the job of the police is not to judge the case, but to implement the process. In this case, the warrant,” he said. “They have to do it. Protect the process, let it roll in its natural course, and most especially, protect the institution.”
