LT. GEN. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. on Tuesday took over the reins of the Philippine National Police (PNP) during public rites presided over by Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla at Camp Crame in Quezon City.
Nartatez, outgoing commander of the Area Police Command-Western Mindanao, replaces Gen. Nicolas Torre III, who was relieved of the post earlier in the day.
In a press conference, Remulla said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. made a “difficult but necessary decision” to relieve Torre as PNP chief.
“The President believes that his national security apparatus must always work within the framework of the law,” he said.
“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 (National Police Commission) as it was intended by law. As part of this resolution, the President decided to relieve Police General Torre (as PNP chief),” he said, referring to the conflict between Torre and Remulla over the reassignment of top police officials that the former carried out without the imprimatur of the Napolcom.
Remulla, who is the Napolcom chair, nullified Torre’s order reassigning 13 high-ranking police officers and restored them to their previous assignments.
Napolcom is the oversight body that exercises administrative and operational supervision over the PNP.
Remulla said the relief of Torre 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,” he said.
Remulla also said then president expressed his gratitude to Torre “as his brief tenure brought new life and energy into the PNP.”
Torre assumed the post as PNP commander on June 2 this year. He was the first product of the PNP Academy to assume the top PNP post.
“Nevertheless, the mission must continue. The Filipinos must be safe. To this end, the President has directed the incoming PNP chief, together with the secretary of the DILG, to present within one month a comprehensive citizen security strategy focused on increasing police presence throughout the country and ensuring that every Filipino feels secure in their communities,” Remulla said.
