Metro Manila, Philippines - The rise of Nicolas Torre III was swift as it was unusual.

In less than three months, the veteran officer - once known for leading high-profile arrests and even stepping into the boxing ring against a Duterte - was chief of the Philippine National Police, handpicked by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

This ended abruptly. On Aug. 25, barely three months into the job, Malacañang announced his relief. One of the triggers: an order from the National Police Commission, or Napolcom, that reversed a controversial reshuffle of senior officers that the ex-PNP chief engineered and defended.

The decision highlighted a rarely tested system in the police force: a PNP chief’s power is conditional; he serves at the pleasure of the president.

The reshuffle that backfired

In early August, Torre reassigned a number of senior police officials, including his deputy, PLTGen Melencio Nartatez Jr., to key commands. Others were: PMGen Benjamin Acorda Jr. to the Directorate for Intelligence; PMGen Emmanuel Peralta, Directorate for Plans; PBGen Nicolas Salvador, Directorate for Comptrollership, and PBGen Mario Reyes, Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management.

Torre said the reshuffle would strengthen operational readiness.

But Napolcom, a constitutional oversight body chaired by the interior secretary, saw it differently.

In a formal resolution, the commission wrote: “Whereas, despite the said issuances, the PNP recently made a series of designations, assignments and reassignments of Police Commission Officers to third-level positions without the required confirmation by the Commission en banc.”

The resolution continued: “Now, THEREFORE, the NAPOLCOM, in the faithful exercise of its power of control, and in accordance with its mandate under the law, has resolved, as it hereby resolves, to recall, set aside and correspondingly modify the present designations, assignments and reassignments to third-level positions issued by the PNP.”

For Torre, who defended the reshuffle as a matter of “dialogue and direction,” the decision was a rebuke that would cost him his job. Days later, Marcos relieved Torre and appointed Nartatez as officer in charge.

A difficult decision

Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said the move was painful for the president, who had cultivated a close working relationship with Torre.

“He didn’t violate any laws. He has not been charged with any administrative or criminal case,” Remulla told reporters. “But he is a presidential appointee who serves at the pleasure of the president, and the president has made a decision to go in another direction.”

He said the decision was not personal but institutional.

“The president believes that his national security apparatus must always work within the framework of the law. With the recent developments, he determined that the best course of action is to uphold the role of Napolcom as it was intended by law,” the Cabinet official said.

Torre’s appointment in May was seen as both surprising and symbolic. A career police officer, he had earned national attention as chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, where he oversaw the arrest of televangelist Apollo Quiboloy and facilitated the service of an International Criminal Court warrant against former President Rodrigo Duterte.

He was also thrust into the spotlight for a boxing match against Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte - an event that hogged headlines and later earned a mention in Marcos’s fourth State of the Nation Address, when the president praised him as a symbol of discipline and resilience.

“Isama na rin natin ‘yung bago nating kampyon, si PNP Chief General Nicolas Torre, (Let's include our new champion, PNP Chief General Nicolas Torre)” said Marcos.

Institutional limits

Under the 1987 Constitution (Article XVI, Section 6), the Philippine National Police is a civilian force under the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG). The Napolcom exercises “administrative control and operational supervision” over the PNP.

That mandate was detailed in Republic Act 6975 (DILG Act of 1990) and strengthened by Republic Act 8551 (PNP Reform and Reorganization Act of 1998). Napolcom has the authority to:

Approve or recall the assignment, reassignment, or promotion of police officers with the rank of Police Colonel and above (so-called “third-level” positions);

Investigate and adjudicate administrative cases against police personnel;

Exercise disciplinary powers over members of the PNP; and

Formulate policies and monitor compliance to ensure that the PNP operates “within the framework of the law.”

In practice, this means that while the PNP chief is the face of the force, he cannot reshuffle generals or appoint senior officials without the concurrence of Napolcom. Torre’s failure to secure this approval before announcing his August reshuffle triggered the commission’s recall order - and, indirectly, his eventual downfall.

“Precisely because we are a country of laws and not of men, the institutions must be larger than the individuals leading them,” Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said, defending the president’s decision to enforce Napolcom’s mandate.

There may still be a graceful transition for Torre. Remulla said Marcos is considering him for another government role.

“The president still believes in his capacity, in his organizational strength, in his vast experience in the service,” he said. “He can be of use in other positions critical to the nation’s development.”

Political analyst Ranjit Rye noted the implications of Torre’s ouster.

“Politically speaking, the relief of Gen. Torre will be seen as a controversial move on the part of President Marcos Jr., given Torre’s popularity with the public,” he said. “While it carries risks in terms of perception, the decision deserves respect as it underscores the President’s intent to assert authority and demonstrate decisiveness, particularly in sensitive institutions like the PNP.”

Rye said it signaled that the administration is prepared to make tough, even unpopular, choices to maintain control and discipline in the ranks.

He also saw a different pathway for the ex-PNP chief.

“I expect President Marcos Jr. will exhort Gen. Torre to continue serving the government in another capacity - possibly at the Cabinet level as head of a high-profile anti-crime task force tasked with investigating and prosecuting criminal syndicates sabotaging the economy and their protectors.”

Torre’s sudden exit showed that even champions are not above the rules.