Interior Sec. Jonvic Remulla Confirms PLtGen. Jose Melencio Nartatez as Next PNP Chief
JOSE MELENCIO NARTATEZ – The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) said the Police Lieutenant General will replace relieved Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Nicolas Torre III in his position.
Countless Filipinos were shocked when Malacañang released a letter stating that PNP Chief Nicolas Torre III is ordered relieved from his post by Pres. Bongbong Marcos. The said order which is “effective immediately” was signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin by the order of President Bongbong Marcos.
There was no mention of the reason why Torre is removed from his position as the PNP chief. He had a three-month term as the chief of the national police. He was a former Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) head before his appointment to the PNP.
Torre played a huge role in the arrest and the transfer of custody of former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte who is now detained under the custody of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, Netherlands. He also played a role in the arrest of Pastor Apollo Quiboloy.
Torre vowed that the police will be trustworthy under his lead. Marcos Jr. even made a special mention of the then-PNP Chief during his 4th State of the Nation Address (SONA) as he jested calling him the “new boxing champion”. Thus, the order of the President really sparked questions.
Neither Malacañang nor relieved PNP chief Nicolas Torre III has issued a statement over the order of Pres. Bongbong Marcos. Recently, DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla claimed that PLtGen. Jose Melencio Nartatez will replace Torre as the PNP chief.
Based on a report on ABS-CBN News, PLtGen. Jose Melencio Nartatez is currently the Western Mindanao’s Area Police Commander (APC). He has also served as the PNP Deputy Chief for Administration and is also a previous provincial director in Ilocos Norte.
Furthermore, based on the report, Nartatez also held directorate positions in the Metro Manila police, Calabarzon police, Directorate for Intelligence, and Directorate for Comptrollership. He also held key positions in investigations and intelligence in Laguna.
Reportedly, PLtGen. Jose Melencio Nartatez was the second-in-command in the PNP when relieved PNP Chief Nicolas Torre III was appointed by Pres. Bongbong Marcos to lead the national police. He was also one of the candidates for the top position in the PNP.
Prior to his relief from his post, relieved PNP chief Nicolas Torre III reminded the cops to “don’t ever forget our humanity”. His statement came after a college student died of leptospirosis after he braved the floodwater to visit his detained father in Caloocan City Police Station 2.