*Dr. Rodolfo John Ortiz Teope, PhD, EdD, DM
In a chance encounter with General Nicolas “Nic” Torre III, we had an opportunity to talk. As his former mentor, I listened when he opened up about continuing in government service.
“Sir, magpapahinga na lang ako,” he told me. “I have done so much in the government. I have nothing to prove.”
He said he needed time to reflect.
Those words stayed with me. I could not claim to know everything he was feeling, but I sensed weariness—a man considering whether, after demanding assignments and public controversy, it was time to step back.
Ang una kong naisip: sayang.
As a National Master under the now-defunct Philippine Chess Federation, I have long appreciated how chess teaches preparation, patience, and responsibility for one’s decisions. These days, on my free days, I am simply another ordinary “chessmall” player at Araneta City, enjoying games at the chess venue organized by Gari Llamera.
Across those boards, I am reminded that a strong move requires more than courage. It needs preparation, support, timing, and an understanding of what comes next.
That conversation with Torre brought a particular chess association to mind: the Torre Attack.
A familiar opening sequence is 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. Bg5. White establishes a central pawn, develops a knight, and brings out a bishop to pressure Black’s knight.
My “Nic Torre Attack” borrows that strategic imagery to examine leadership and management in law enforcement. It is my metaphor, rather than a claim that his operations reproduce the opening’s moves.
The connection is simple: prepare carefully, coordinate your resources, act when required, and remain responsible for the consequences.
Torre’s most consequential assignment involved former President Rodrigo Duterte.
On March 11, 2025, Torre, then director of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, led the police operation that arrested Duterte pursuant to an International Criminal Court warrant. Duterte was subsequently transferred to The Hague, Netherlands.
I regard the completed arrest and transfer as an operational checkmate. Here I use a separate chess image—the torre, or rook, helping complete a decisive operation. The determination of criminal responsibility belongs to the court.
Sa operasyon, naisagawa ang checkmate. Sa hukuman, hiwalay na usapin ang magiging hatol.
Torre acted within the government’s chain of command. Then-PNP chief Rommel Marbil also supervised airport security measures. Torre’s direct confrontation with Duterte and his entourage nevertheless placed him at the most visible point of implementation.
He could hardly have been unaware of the consequences. He later recounted being threatened with lawsuits during the operation.
Kapag tinanggihan niya ang atas, kailangan niyang managot sa kaniyang mga nakatataas. Kapag ipinatupad niya, haharapin niya ang galit ng mga tagasuporta ni Duterte. Saan siya lulugar?
He performed the assignment and faced what followed.
For me, that demonstrates discipline under pressure. Such discipline carries an obligation to exercise judgment, respect rights, and remain answerable under the law.
Some Duterte supporters, commonly called DDS, have directed intense hostility toward him. They have every right to criticize his conduct and question the operation. But anger should not collapse an entire chain of responsibility into one man.
May nagbigay ng atas. May namahala. May nagpatupad. Ang pananagutan ay kailangang suriin sa bawat antas.
I find that distinction especially important because the officer visible in a confrontation can become the permanent target of resentment long after the officials behind the assignment have moved on.
His earlier role in the prolonged operation against Apollo Quiboloy also deserves attention. The operation ended with Quiboloy in custody, and reporting described how a threatened final assault was averted. Its achievements must be assessed alongside the injuries, and complaints reported during the standoff.
What interests me is the combination of persistence and restraint. In sensitive operations, a commander must sustain pressure while recognizing the danger of escalation. Completing the mission and accounting for the methods used are inseparable responsibilities.
His emphasis on emergency response brings the discussion closer to ordinary citizens.
In August 2025, Torre reported that almost 94 percent of 3,574 calls requiring police assistance had received a response within five minutes. These were reported PNP figures, but they gave the public a concrete standard against which to question performance.
As a former municipal councilor, I appreciate the importance of that kind of expectation. People experience government through what happens when they need it.
Kapag may nanganganib, bawat minutong paghihintay ay may kapalit.
As an educator, I would ask whether that responsiveness could become an institutional habit—maintained across assignments, shifts, and changes in leadership. A commander’s strongest legacy is an organization that continues to perform after he leaves.
Torre’s appointment as the first PNPA graduate—the first Lakan—to become PNP chief was historic. His June-to-August 2025 tenure was brief, but it opened an important institutional door. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. later attributed his removal to differences with NAPOLCOM while continuing to praise his police capabilities.
I would include that episode in any serious assessment of him. The ability to work within civilian oversight, explain priorities, and resolve institutional disagreement matters alongside operational skill.
So does his response to his own mistakes.
Reports documented the use of his privately owned vehicle on the EDSA Busway, issues concerning its plate and equipment, and his subsequent explanations, apology, and payment of fines.
Operational considerations deserve a hearing. They must withstand scrutiny under the applicable rules. I regard his apology as a positive response; the lasting measure will be whether his conduct reflects the lesson.
A mistake does not erase earlier contributions. Earlier contributions do not excuse a mistake.
That is the balance I want to preserve.
When I remember our conversation, I wonder whether public judgment has left enough room for that balance. Have we examined the whole career, or allowed its most contentious moments to stand for everything?
His position as MMDA general manager provides another avenue for service. My view is that the government should also consider where his experience can contribute most directly to law enforcement, crime prevention, and crime suppression.
That case rests on relevant professional experience. A broader national role would require more: competence in economic and social policy, sound appointments, democratic restraint, and the ability to work across political differences.
Should Torre pursue such a role in 2028, he must demonstrate those qualifications. His background could broaden the public’s choices beyond familiar political surnames, but a different name must still earn the people’s trust.
Bagong pangalan, oo. Kasama dapat ang malinaw na direksiyon, kakayahan, at pananagutan.
As the Marcos administration approaches its final two years, the President should assess where Torre can deliver the greatest public benefit. Give him responsibilities suited to his strengths, establish clear expectations, and judge the results.
Political hostility should not close that opportunity. Admiration should not exempt him from scrutiny.
That is the purpose of this “Torre Attack”: to ask whether a capable public servant still has a contribution the country needs—and whether government has the judgment to use it well.
I return to what he told me: “Sir, magpapahinga na lang ako.”
General, you have every right to rest.
Pero sana, matapos ang pagninilay, mayroon ka pang ganang maglingkod. May maitutulong ka pa. At sana, may pamahalaang handang gamitin nang tama ang kakayahang iyon—para sa bayan.
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