DAVAO City - First District Representative Paolo "Pulong" Duterte has launched a scathing response against former Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief General Nicolas Torre III, telling him to first account for his unusually brief tenure before making statements about arrest warrants.
The Short-Term Chief and Long-Term Threats
In a strongly worded statement issued on November 19, 2025, Duterte suggested that Torre should refrain from commenting on legal matters until he explains why his term as the country's top police officer ended so abruptly. "Until then, he should sit this one out. Short-term chiefs should not issue long-term threats," the congressman declared.
The lawmaker didn't hold back in his criticism of Torre's brief leadership period, stating that the former PNP chief's term was "so short that it could be measured in hours rather than in achievements." Duterte pointed out that before Torre "fantasizes" about arresting anyone, he should address what he called the "memory gap" among Filipinos - noting that "no one remembers Torre as PNP chief."
A Leadership Tenure Questioned
Duterte characterized Torre's time as PNP chief in particularly harsh terms, describing it as "not a leadership stint but an intermission, a placeholder, a bookmark in a chapter nobody read." He further claimed that the only thing shorter than Torre's service was the patience of PNP officers who reportedly questioned how someone "politically fragile" managed to become the organization's chief.
The congressman also took issue with Torre presenting himself as an authority on international law, suggesting that his brief service as PNP chief somehow transformed him into an "oracle of sovereignty." Duterte emphasized that the Philippines is not a member of the International Criminal Court (ICC), a fact he said "everyone already knows" and implied that Torre - or whoever might be advising him - should recognize.
Background of the Conflict
The heated exchange stems from Torre's recent comments in a national media interview where he stated his readiness to implement an arrest warrant against Senator Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa if ordered to do so. The former PNP chief explained that from the beginning of his police career, he had always followed orders and would continue this practice even after leaving his position as chief.
Duterte contrasted the two figures, suggesting that Torre should "check the scoreboard" after threatening Dela Rosa, noting that the senator "actually served" the country while Torre had only a brief stint at Camp Crame before being replaced.
The congressman characterized Torre's recent vocal stance as "not courage but bitterness disguised as relevance," accusing him of clinging to whatever media attention he can obtain. Duterte concluded by emphasizing that credibility is earned over time - something he believes Torre never served long enough to build.
Torre's Police Career Highlights
General Nicolas Torre III served as PNP chief for only two months, during which time he made headlines for his charity boxing match with Acting Davao City Mayor Sebastian "Baste" Duterte.
Prior to becoming PNP chief, Torre played a central role in one of the country's most extensive law enforcement operations: the arrest of Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) leader Apollo Quiboloy in September 2024.
In June 2024, Torre assumed leadership of the Police Regional Office-Davao Region, where he supervised "Operation Plan Teknon Alpha" - a massive 16-day siege of Quiboloy's sprawling KOJC compound. This operation was notable for deploying approximately 4,500 police personnel and costing around ₱35 million, described by authorities as "unprecedented in scale."
The ICC Warrant Controversy
The conflict emerged after Ombudsman Jesus Crispin "Boying" Remulla claimed that the ICC had issued an arrest warrant for Senator Dela Rosa. "I have it on good authority kasi public interest ito. The ICC has issued a warrant against Senator Bato Dela Rosa. Warrant of arrest," Remulla stated in a radio interview on DZRH.
However, the Department of Justice (DOJ) clarified that it would only carry out an arrest if the ICC had indeed issued a warrant. ICC spokesperson Fadi El Abdallah told national media that official ICC information is released exclusively through its communication channels and press releases.
Abdallah specifically stated that the only ongoing case at present is against former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, directly confirming that no arrest warrant exists for Senator Dela Rosa. "So, no is a direct answer to your question to confirm if such an arrest warrant exists," the ICC spokesperson emphasized.
Senator Dela Rosa served as PNP chief when former President Duterte launched his controversial campaign against illegal drugs, which has been the subject of international scrutiny.
