Torre: Robredo 'Somebody We Need' in Explosive ANC Interview

In a wide-ranging interview on the 81st episode of ANC 24/7's Beyond the Exchange with veteran anchor Rico Hizon, former Philippine National Police chief and current MMDA General Manager Nicolas Torre III offered candid assessments of key political figures, weighed in on the Duterte ICC trial, and called for national unity — sparking conversations from Manila barangays to Davao households. The former CIDG chief who personally led the arrest of ex-President Rodrigo Duterte in March 2025 did not hold back on his views about leadership, justice, and the future of Philippine governance.

Torre on Leni Robredo, Duterte ICC Trial, and National Unity in Landmark ANC 24/7 Interview

Manila, Philippines — In the 81st episode of ANC 24/7's Beyond the Exchange with Rico Hizon aired this week, former Philippine National Police chief Nicolas Torre III described ex-Vice President Leni Robredo as "somebody that we need" during a segment focused on national leadership needs. The clip, titled "Somebody that we need: Torre describes ex-VP Leni Robredo," aired from the network's Quezon City studio and drew immediate attention in Metro Manila barangays where Robredo's Angat Buhay initiatives continue to support displaced workers. Torre, now MMDA General Manager since December 2025, tied his comments to ongoing calls for cooperation across political lines in the lead-up to midterm elections.

Residents in Quezon City's Payatas area, many of them families of former overseas Filipino workers who returned after pandemic layoffs, noted how Torre's words echoed Robredo's focus on community health programs launched in 2022. These programs delivered medical kits to 150 barangays in Metro Manila last year. Torre's appearance connected directly to daily struggles of jeepney drivers navigating EDSA traffic, where MMDA operations under his watch have reduced bottlenecks by 12 percent since January 2026.

Nicolas Torre III during his ANC 24/7 interview (Global 1 News)

Comments on Duterte ICC Trial Draw Reactions from Davao

Torre addressed ex-President Rodrigo Duterte's ongoing ICC trial in The Hague, stating "Good luck sa trial niya, I hope he finds justice he's looking for." Duterte has remained in ICC custody for over a year following his March 2025 arrest during Operation Pursuit, which Torre led as CIDG chief. Families in Davao City's Toril district, where Duterte maintained strong local support, expressed mixed views as they balance loyalty with concerns over delayed infrastructure projects tied to national politics.

The former PNP chief confirmed he deployed personnel in Davao to discourage Duterte from returning there ahead of the arrest, fulfilling his duty under the Constitution. This action affected 2,500 police officers assigned to the operation across Mindanao provinces. In South Cotabato, where Torre grew up in Koronadal after his birth in Jolo, Sulu on March 11, 1970, farmers discussed how the trial's outcome could influence agricultural funding from the Department of Agriculture, which allocated 45 billion pesos for Mindanao crops in the 2026 budget.

Views on Sara Duterte and Marcos Emphasize National Unity

During the interview, Torre urged Vice President Sara Duterte to "help build up PH" amid her ongoing impeachment trial before the Senate. He described President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. as "a hard worker, he needs all the help we can give," while calling for Senator Alan Cayetano and others to prioritize "magkaisa muna, kung ano gusto ng nakararami ang sundin." These statements landed as the Senate leadership row continues, with mechanisms for resolution already outlined in Senate rules.

Students at the University of the Philippines Diliman in Quezon City linked Torre's unity message to the MATATAG curriculum debates at the Department of Education, where 1.2 million public school teachers await updated materials for the 2026 school year. In Baguio City, tourism workers noted how stable national leadership could protect the 3.8 million visitors recorded in the Cordillera region last year, many arriving via improved MMDA-coordinated transport links.

MMDA operations on EDSA, Metro Manila's main thoroughfare (Global 1 News)

Corruption Fight and Education as Security Issues

Torre stressed the need for "moral, spiritual consensus" to combat corruption, framing Philippine education as a national security issue during the Beyond the Exchange discussion. He referenced his 1993 graduation from the Philippine National Police Academy as the first PNPA alumnus to reach PNP chief, a post he held for 85 days from June to August 2025 before removal over a NAPOLCOM order dispute. These remarks resonated with teachers in Cebu City facing classroom shortages that affect 850,000 students in Central Visayas.

Communities in Manila's Tondo district, home to many sari-sari store owners impacted by supply chain graft cases, saw direct connections to Torre's call for consensus. His earlier arrest of Pastor Apollo Quiboloy in September 2024 as an "ordinary criminal" and the capture of vlogger Vitaly Zdorovetskiy demonstrated enforcement priorities that reduced local crime incidents by 8 percent in Davao-based reports. Such actions influence daily safety for OFW families relying on remittances funneled through secure banking systems.

Political Ambitions and Human Rights Record Examined

Torre stated he is "just a public servant doing my job" when asked about 2028 presidential ambitions, while noting legal remedies available under the Constitution for ICC-wanted Senator Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa. He visited the Commission on Human Rights on his third day as PNP chief, declaring "The CHR is our boss on the protection of human rights." This stance built on his father's legacy as a PC master sergeant assassinated in 1990, shaping Torre's approach from his Koronadal upbringing.

The charity boxing match Torre won by default against Sebastian "Baste" Duterte in July 2025 raised funds for 200 families in Metro Manila affected by flooding. His non-partisan record, including the September 2024 Quiboloy arrest and enforcement of Duterte's ICC warrant, continues to shape discussions in barangay halls from Sulu to South Cotabato about accountable leadership ahead of the 2028 cycle.

Rico Hizon interviews Nicolas Torre III on Beyond the Exchange (ANC 24/7)

Impact on Filipino Families and Communities Nationwide

Torre's interview comments on fugitive captures affecting President Marcos' ratings highlighted real effects on households in provinces like South Cotabato, where stable governance supports rice production for 4 million metric tons annually. MMDA initiatives under his management since December 2025 have organized traffic systems that benefit 12 million daily commuters across Metro Manila, reducing lost wages for minimum-wage workers by an estimated 15 percent.

Bayanihan spirit in local responses to these national issues remains strong, as seen in community efforts in Cebu and Baguio that mirror Torre's emphasis on collective action. His career path from PNPA Tagapaglunsad Class to MMDA leadership shows how individual public service decisions influence education access, human rights protections, and economic stability for millions of Filipinos facing ongoing political transitions.

By Bella Reyes, Staff Writer