MMDA Gen. Manager Nicolas Torre III Answers to Flak over his New Appointment
NICOLAS TORRE III – The newly-appointed Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) General Manager responded to the criticisms over his new post from being the chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP).
In December 2025, Malacañang confirmed the appointment of Torre as the new MMDA head. The new post of the former PNP Chief came a few months after he was relieved from his position as the national police chief in August last year.
MMDA General Manager Nicolas Torre III had the shortest stint as PNP Chief — just 85 days in the position. Prior to his appointment to lead the national police, he rose to prominence for leading the arrest and the transfer of custody of former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte to the International Criminal Court.
Duterte remains under the custody of the ICC since March 2025. During the arrest, Torre earned countless, massive criticisms from the supporters of the former President.
Former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte remains under the custody of the ICC and the foreign court recently upheld his detention as per a report on Inquirer. Previously, the youngest son of the former Chief Executive, Davao Mayor Baste Duterte, had slammed Torre following the arrest of his father.
On his relief from being the PNP chief, Davao Mayor Baste Duterte previously expressed his belief that Nicolas Torre III was allegedly “demoted”. The son of former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte stressed that being the chief PNP is already the highest position that one can attain in the police field.
The recent appointment of former PNP Chief Nicolas Torre III in the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority as the MMDA General Manager gained different opinions and criticisms as well. The “demotion” speculations and criticisms remain part of what circulated on social media.
For his part, MMDA General Manager Nicolas Torre III responded to the ‘demotion’ criticisms over his new post. The former PNP Chief cited that he earns a bigger salary now with his new post.
“Mas mataas ang sweldo ko ngayon,” Torre said.
Based on a post of Iloilo Metropolitan Times, under the Executive Order No. 107, a police chief with a rank of police general is entitled to receive a monthly salary of P157,274. With regards to the MMDA General Manager post, the salary is equivalent to the rank of an undersecretary which carries Salary Grade 30 or a monthly salary of P203,200.
Previously, former PNP chief and now MMDA General Manager Nicolas Torre also had a joking response on the calls for him to run for vice president in 2028.