Former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief and now Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) General Manager Nicolas Torre III on Thursday debunked claims that he filed and signed an optional retirement from the police service.

Torre addressed the issue in an interview with reporters after inspecting the Bayanihan sa Estero program at the Kalabingkoho River in Barangay Malanday, Valenzuela City, alongside Valenzuela City Mayor Wes Gatchalian.

“No,” Torre said when asked if he had filed an optional retirement from the police service.

He added that he would first discuss the matter with the organization, stressing that he did not sign any retirement application.

“I don’t have any applications to sign. So let’s leave it at that for now because my bosses and I will talk first,” Torre said.

Torre noted that it is not uncommon for police officers to serve in other government agencies, citing instances where active police officers later returned to the PNP.

“High-ranking police officers who stayed in the Bureau of Immigration for 10 years… Now, this is not the first, this is not the last for sure,” he said.

He added that the deployment of officials is at the discretion of the President, depending on the needs of government.

The clarification came after the release of General Order No. NHQ-GO-OR-2026-330 dated 29 January, which stated that Torre had formally retired from the police service upon the approval of the National Police Commission.

“Torre is optionally retired from the PNP service effective Dec. 26, 2025 with 5th longevity pay and retirement benefits equivalent to his present rank as approved by the Napolcom Resolution No. 2026-0029 dated Jan. 19, 2026,” the order read.

Torre was appointed PNP chief on 29 May 2025 but was relieved after three months, on 26 August, after he reportedly defied an order by the National Police Commission reversing his reassignment of senior police officials.

In December 2025, Torre accepted his appointment as MMDA general manager. Following his oath-taking, the National Police Commission said he was deemed resigned from the PNP.