PLTGEN. Jose Melencio Nartatez, Jr. is the newly-installed chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP).
Nartatez assumed the post of officer-in-charge (OIC) of the PNP after President Marcos, Jr., through Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, removed Gen. Nicolas Torre III, who only served for about three months after gaining fame for having arrested fugitive televangelist Apollo Quiboloy and former president Rodrigo Duterte.
During the turnover of the command, Nartatez thanked “Apo President” Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. and Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla, among others, along with outgoing chief Torre, whom he credited “for streering PNP to what it is today.”
In an interview, Nartatez dismissed rumors of an internal rift within the organization, saying: “I don’t find any conflict or away basta we follow orders.”
“The PNP is a dynamic organization. We are covered by orders. We are covered by policies. 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,” the new PNP chief stated.
Nartatez also said that he will continue the ‘five-minute response’ introduced by his predecessor, as he took his oath and signed his assumption as OIC of the PNP.
“We should respond to any distress call or call for help from our community. That is part of our managing police operations… it is about patrolling and investigation… proactive and reactive,” he added.
Nartatez joined the Philippine Military Academy in 1988 and graduated as a member of the Tanglaw-Diwa Class of 1992, the last PMA batch eligible to become PNP chief.[4] He also obtained a master’s degree in public administration
Before being assigned as PNP OIC, Nartatez has held several key positions within the Philippine National Police. He previously served as director of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO), regional director of Calabarzon police and Ilocos Norte provincial police chief.
In Camp Crame, he served in the Finance Service, later becoming director for comptrollership and intelligence. He also served as a member of the elite PNP Special Action Force and under the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group.
In October 2024, he became Deputy Chief for Administration, the PNP’s second-highest position, following the retirement of Police Lieutenant General Emmanuel Peralta.
