Metropolitan Manila Development Authority General Manager Nicolas Torre III clarified that he is not seeking the mayoral post in Davao City following reports linking him to a possible candidacy.
Torre on Friday, August 7, responded to a report citing Vice President Sara Duterte as welcoming his willingness to run for mayor of Davao City if he chose to do so.
The report said Duterte was asked about rumors that Torre was eyeing an elective position in the city.
“Everyone, of course, ‘no, in a democratic country, lahat ay allowed at welcome na mag-file ng kanilang certificate of candidacy at tumakbo sa election,” she was quoted as saying.
Torre saw the report and clarified that he has no intention of running for mayor of Davao City. The next national and local elections are scheduled for 2028.
“Ang bilis naman. May nag-comment lang yata noong nakaraang araw na tumakbo raw akong Mayor ng Davao, ngayon, parang naging totoong balita na,” he said in a Facebook post.
“Para malinaw: wala akong sinabing tatakbo akong Mayor ng Davao. At wala rin akong inanunsyong pagtakbo sa anumang local o national position,” Torre added.
“Kaya huwag muna nating pangunahan ang kuwento. Marami pa tayong trabaho. Sa ngayon, trabaho muna. Ang serbisyo, hindi naman kailangang hintayin ang eleksyon,” he continued.
The report said rumors about Torre seeking an elective post surfaced after tarpaulins bearing his image and name were spotted along some roads in Isabela.
The tarpaulins featured the message, “INGAT SA DAAN!”
In an interview, Torre clarified that he did not commission the tarpaulins and that no government funds were used for their production.
He said the materials were made by an LPG brand for its gathering of distributors in Isabela.
Torre also said that he appreciates the posters because it served as a reminder motorists to be careful on the road.
Meanwhile, Torre drew criticism from the Duterte camp and its supporters following his role in the arrest of former president Rodrigo Duterte, who was brought to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in March 2025.
At the time, Torre was the director of the Philippine National Police’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, which carried out the operation to serve the ICC-issued warrant against the former president.
He also led the operation that resulted in the arrest of alleged sex offender and televangelist Apollo Quiboloy in 2024 while serving as Davao Region police chief. Quiboloy was wanted for qualified human trafficking and sexual abuse.
Torre was later appointed as PNP chief, a position he held for three months.
