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Torre replaces Police Major General Leo Francisco. Police Brigadier General Leon Victor Rosete succeeds Torre as PNP Davao Region police chief.
MANILA, Philippines – Police Brigadier General Nicolas Torre III, the Davao Region police director who led the operation against alleged human trafficker Apollo Quiboloy, has been named as the new Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP CIDG) director.
Torre was named acting CIDG director under PNP General Order 2024-4486, issued by PNP Directorial Staff head Police Lieutenant General Jon Arnaldo on Tuesday, September 24. PNP spokesperson Police Colonel Jean Fajardo also confirmed Torre’s appointment to Rappler.
Torre will replace Police Major General Leo Francisco effective September 25. Meanwhile, Police Brigadier General Leon Victor Rosete will succeed Torre as PNP Davao Region police chief, also on Wednesday.
As its new chief, Torre will lead the PNP unit responsible for monitoring, investigating, and prosecuting crimes involving economic sabotage and crimes of related magnitude. The CIDG is also mandated to probe major cases involving violations of the Revised Penal Code, and to conduct operations against organized groups.
Torre’s stint as Davao Region’s police chief has been nothing short of colorful. He was behind the 16-day police mission to catch the long-wanted Quiboloy, an influential and wealthy preacher with close ties to former president Rodrigo Duterte, at the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) compound in Buhangin, Davao City.
He took charge in arresting Quiboloy, who at the time, had evaded arrest for months. Torre was appointed as Davao Region police chief in June, and in just three months, Quiboloy was arrested by authorities over alleged trafficking, and child and sexual abuse.
Aside from local cases, the preacher and two other of his associates are also on the US Federal Bureau of Investigation’s most-wanted list since early 2022 after they were indicted in California for a string of criminal offenses such as conspiracy to engage in trafficking, abuse of children, visa fraud, and bulk cash smuggling, among many others.
Quiboloy disliked Torre so much that when he was arrested by authorities, he requested “not see Torre’s face.” In the duration of Quiboloy’s arrest, Torre faced and responded to criticisms from the preacher’s allies and supporters, like the time when Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte questioned the prolonged police presence in the Kingdom of Jesus Christ compound.
Before his Davao Region stint, Torre served as Quezon City Police District’s (QCPD) top cop in 2023.
However, he resigned amid the road rage controversy involving a former cop. The then-QCPD chief was criticized for organizing a press conference with dismissed QCPD cop Wilfredo Gonzales last year after the former cop drew a gun and threatened a cyclist while on the road. – Rappler.com
