Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr.is the new PNP chief. RTVMALACAÑANG

Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. has officially assumed command of the Philippine National Police (PNP), replacing Police Gen. Nicolas Torre III after his abrupt relief by Malacañang. The turnover ceremony took place Tuesday (August 26) at Camp Crame, with Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla presiding. Torre, who did not attend, sent word that he accepted the Palace order. “This was not an easy choice, but it was made in the national interest,” Remulla told reporters. “The President is committed to ensuring a unified direction and collaboration across all areas in his Cabinet, particularly those responsible for delivering security, peace, and order.” Nartatez, the PNP’s 32nd chief, is a graduate of the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1992. He has held several key posts in the police service, including director of the Finance Service, regional commander of Calabarzon, chief of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO), and most recently Deputy Chief for Administration. He will serve until his mandatory retirement in March 2027. In his first remarks as PNP chief, Nartatez vowed to build on Torre’s initiatives while expanding the force’s presence on the ground. “The Philippine National Police is a dynamic organization. We are covered by orders and covered by policies. And as a fine Filipino public servant, na minsan ay isang sundalo, susunod lang tayo kung ano ang ibibigay na utos, especially, this is a general order,” he said. Among his priorities is strengthening crime prevention through visible street patrols, while sustaining Torre’s “five-minute response” campaign aimed at improving response time to incidents nationwide. The PNP, in a statement, assured the public that “day-to-day operations and services will remain uninterrupted” despite the leadership shift. Nartatez’s assumption comes after weeks of tension between Torre and Napolcom over the unauthorized relief of senior officers, including Nartatez himself — the very man who is now leading the organization. With his background in finance, regional leadership, and national command, Nartatez is expected to steer the PNP toward a steadier path after one of the most abrupt leadership transitions in recent memory. CAM/MAM/Expat Media
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