Nicolas Torre Responds to Talk of Possible Davao City Mayoral Run
NICOLAS TORRE – Rumors of a possible 2028 mayoral bid in Davao City have prompted MMDA General Manager Nicolas Torre III to set the record straight.
Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) General Manager Nicolas Torre III has clarified that he has no plans to run for mayor of Davao City or seek any local or national government position in the 2028 elections.
Torre clarified after Vice President Sara Duterte was asked about the possibility of the MMDA chief running for mayor of Davao City.
“Para malinaw, wala akong sinabing tatakbo akong Mayor ng Davao. At wala rin akong inanunsyong pagtakbo sa anumang local o national position,” Torre said in a Facebook post on Friday, August 7.
He also emphasized that discussions about the upcoming elections should not be rushed, pointing out that government officials still have responsibilities to fulfill at present.
“Kaya huwag muna nating pangunahan ang kuwento. Marami pa tayong trabaho. Sa ngayon, trabaho muna. Ang serbisyo, hindi naman kailangang hintayin ang eleksyon,” he added.
The issue gained attention after Duterte was asked during an interview in Davao City about reports circulating that Torre could potentially seek the city’s top local post.
The Vice President said that in a democratic country, anyone who wishes to file a certificate of candidacy and participate in an election is free to do so.
Speculation intensified after photos of a tarpaulin bearing Torre’s face and the message “Ingat sa daan!” circulated on social media.
Davao City is currently led by Duterte’s brother, Sebastian “Baste” Duterte. The Vice President and her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, also previously served as mayor of the city.
Before his appointment to the MMDA, Torre held several senior positions in the Philippine National Police (PNP). As the former chief of Police Regional Office 11, he was involved in the 2024 operation to locate and arrest Pastor Apollo Quiboloy in Davao City over criminal cases filed against him.
Torre later headed the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), where he was also involved in implementing the International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant against former President Duterte.
In June 2025, Torre was appointed as the 31st chief of the PNP. His tenure lasted around two months and three weeks before he was removed from the post.
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said Torre was removed as PNP chief because of his opposition to directives coming from the National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM).
After his stint as PNP chief, Torre was appointed general manager of the MMDA.
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