By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan
MANILA – Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez, Jr. on Tuesday assumed command of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in a surprise ceremony presided over by Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Jonvic Remulla at Camp Crame in Quezon City.
Nartatez replaced Gen. Nicolas Torre III, who did not show up for the ceremony but relayed to Remulla that he “acknowledged the order.”
The turnover of command came just a few hours after news broke that President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., in an order signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, had ordered Torre’s relief.
Remulla said Marcos’ desire to uphold the authority of the National Police Commission (Napolcom), which has administrative control and operational supervision over the PNP, was among the reasons for Torre’s relief.
“The Palace affirms that President Ferdinand (R.) Marcos, Jr. has made the difficult but necessary decision to relieve PNP Chief PGen Nicolas Torre III of his duties. The President believes that his national security apparatus must always work within the framework of the law,” said Remulla, who is also chairperson of the Napolcom.
“With the recent developments, the President was presented with the facts and he determined that the best course of action is to uphold the role of Napolcom as it was intended by law. As part of this resolution, the President decided to relieve Gen. Torre,” he added.
Remulla said the President has directed him and Nartatez to present within one month a comprehensive citizen security strategy focusing on increasing police presence throughout the country and ensuring that every Filipino feels secure in their communities.
Torre previously disregarded a Napolcom resolution reversing his Aug. 6 order to reassign some PNP officials, including his eventual successor, Nartatez.
In his order, Torre reassigned Nartatez, who at the time headed the PNP’s Deputy Chief for Administration, to switch posts with his classmate at the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Tanglaw-Diwa Class of 1992, Lt. Gen. Bernard Banac, who was commander of the Area Police Command-Western Mindanao.
On Aug. 14, the Napolcom issued an order invalidating the revamp order involving Nartatez and Banac.
The same Napolcom order made its own revamp involving at least 10 senior police officers in some key positions that included the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO), Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) and the Police Regional Office (PRO) 4A, or Calabarzon.
The Napolcom order triggered the issuance of various manifestos of support for Torre, almost all coming from PNP Academy Classes and PNPA graduates as Torre was the first “Lakan” (PNPA graduate) appointed as PNP chief.
Remulla said Marcos’ decision was made in the interest of national security.
“This was not an easy choice, but it was made in the national interest. 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,” said Remulla in a press briefing.
“When you have issues arising, you must resolve it according to the rules of the institution and that’s what we are doing. This is not a popularity contest, this is a question of maintaining the integrity of the institution,” he added.
He clarified that Torre was neither charged with any administrative or criminal case nor committed any violation of the law.
4-star rank
According to Remulla, Torre, a four-star general, was given the option to retire and was also being considered for another government post.
With the four-star rank still with Torre, Nartatez has to wait for him to be a full-fledged chief PNP since there can only be one four-star rank police general based on PNP policy.
Remulla said it will be up to the Napolcom to deal with the matter if Torre refuses to give up his four-star rank through an early retirement.
In his recent meeting with Marcos to discuss Torre’s replacement, Remulla recounted that the President had said he was considering a government position for the relieved PNP chief.
“I actually don’t know for a fact what will be offered to him but it has been brought about during our conversation that he is thinking of offering a position to the former chief PNP,” said Remulla.
Remulla said the Chief Executive has been thinking of putting Torre’s vast government service experience to good use in other positions in the national government.
“He is being considered for another position because the President believes in his capacity, in his organizational strength, in his vast experience in the service so the President believes that he can be of use in other positions critical to the nation’s development,” said Remulla.
“We will know soon if General Torre will accept.”
Marcos chose Torre to replace Rommel Francisco Marbil as PNP chief on June 2, 2025, exactly 85 days ago.
Torre was instrumental in the arrest of Kingdom of Jesus Christ leader Apollo Quiboloy last year and the serving of an arrest warrant on former president Rodrigo Duterte in March this year.
Torre’s mandatory retirement is in March 2027.
32nd PNP chief
Meanwhile, Nartatez was sworn in as the 32nd Chief PNP on Tuesday. Like Torre, he is set to retire in March 2027.
“General Nartatez has served the PNP with distinction, much less with honor and with integrity. The president, while ruminating through papers and through the qualifications, saw that Gen. Nartatez was best qualified to be the next chief PNP,” Remulla said.
In his assumption speech, Nartatez said Torre’s programs, including the police’s five-minute response time campaign, will continue.
He vowed to pursue proactive crime prevention, emphasizing his goal of ensuring that people can walk the streets safely and without fear.
“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,” Nartatez told reporters in a chance interview.
“In the PNP, of course, if you are not yet retired, of the mandatory age requirement that is 56, nobody can force the PNP to retire kasi karapatan niya yun ano, so dito (because that is his right, so here) of course may order na relieved and I have my designation orders. I follow,” he added.
Asked if there was a rift that led to the shakeup, Nartatez said there was none that he was aware of.
Even before, Nartatez was already considered as the PNP chief in waiting—a belief among PNP senior officers that was reinforced by his appointment to several key posts.
Nartatez held the position of director of the PNP Finance Service before he was named as the regional director of the Police Regional Office 4A, one of the coveted posts at the PNP.
He was later appointed as NCRPO chief before his designation as the PNP’s number two man, or the Deputy Chief for Administration.
In a statement, the PNP acknowledged Malacañang’s directive to relieve Torre and also welcomed the appointment of Nartatez Jr. as its new chief.
“We extend our full support to his leadership as he steers the organization in fulfilling its mandate in line with the vision of a Bagong Pilipinas. We assure the Filipino people that despite this transition, the PNP remains steadfast in its mandate to serve and protect with professionalism, integrity, and accountability. Our operations and services to the public will continue without disruption,” it said.
“We also appeal to the public to avoid speculation and the spread of unverified information. The PNP is committed to transparency and will provide timely updates as developments unfold,” it added. (PNA)
