Antonio C. Torres

Sir Antonio C. Torres, KGCR, (born Antonio Torres y Vergara; September 1, 1885 – June 1, 1951) founder and first Supreme Commander of the Order of the Knights of Rizal and first Filipino Chief of Police of the Manila Police Department in 1936.

Early life Torres was born on September 1, 1885, to the Hon. Florentino Torres and Doña Sabina Vergara, in Manila. His father was the first Filipino Attorney-General and one of the first Associate-Justices on the Supreme Court of the Philippines. His mother was from a wealthy Vergara family of Vergara Street Manila.

Education In 1901, Torres graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Ateneo de Manila.

In 1902, Torres moved to the United States where he studied law and military science at Cornell University, in New York. In 1903, Torres transferred from Cornell to the National University School of Law, Washington, D.C. There he studied with Secretary Filemon Perez and Vicente Albert. He graduated with a Bachelor of Laws in 1905. At 20 years old he was one of the youngest of the graduating class. He returned to the Philippines the same year and was turned away from the bar examinations for being too young. Battalion cadet commanders under him at the time included future Brigadier-General Guillermo B. Francisco, Justice Mariano Albert, and Senator José Locsín. In 1941, President Quezon appointed Torres Member of the Traffic Commission.

In 1941, when war broke out Torres declared Manila as an open city.

When the American liberation forces arrived Col. Marcus E. Jones assumed the functions and office of Chief of Manila Police Department on orders from Gen. Douglas MacArthur, who received the request from President Osmeña. Torres shortly served as the Assistant Chief to Jones until he requested in a letter to Jones to be relieved of his duties on March 13, 1945. In his letter to Jones he addressed his continued service as Chief of Police during Japanese occupation: ...it was because the highest representative of the Commonwealth Government... present in Malacañang during the last days of 1941 instructed me and organization to remain in post for the interest of peace and order and protection of life and property of the residents of this city and not because we volunteered our services to the Japanese, and if we continued that service during the last three years it was because there was no other alternative, either we have to be incarcerated or executed. Despite this, on March 18, 1945, Torres was taken into custody by the Counter Intelligence Corps of the United States Army to be prosecuted for treason in the People's Court for his actions during Japanese occupation. Torres was acquitted of his charges on January 16, 1948.

Order of the Knights of Rizal On December 30, 1911, Torres gathered nine men to commemorate the execution and martyrdom Jose Rizal. This commemoration continued annually until November 16, 1916, when Torres organized a private non-stock corporation named “Orden de Caballeros de Rizal’, Spanish for Order of the Knights of Rizal. Torres' fellow co-founders were Juan Flameño, Martin P. de Veyra, Jose A. del Barrio and Jose S. Calvez.

Awards 85x85px Supreme Commander and Knight of the Order of the Knights of Rizal.