Gen. Nicolas Torre III
Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr.
Photos from Wikimedia Commons / Philippine National Police
Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. has taken command of the Philippine National Police, tasked with restoring stability after the brief and disputed tenure of Gen. Nicolas Torre III.
MANILA — In a swift and unforeseen move, Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. has been appointed as the new Chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), replacing Gen. Nicolas Torre III, whose brief tenure came to an abrupt end. The appointment was formalized through a memorandum signed on August 25, 2025, by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin and took effect immediately following President Marcos Jr.’s approval. Nartatez officially assumed the post on August 26, 2025.
What’s Behind the Change
Gen. Nicolas Torre III began his term on June 2, 2025, becoming the 31st PNP Chief and the first graduate of the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) to head the organization. His tenure, however, lasted less than three months. A major factor behind his relief was a controversial reshuffle of senior police officials, which attempted to reassign multiple generals, including Lt. Gen. Nartatez. The move was swiftly overturned by the National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) through Resolution 2025-0531, issued on August 14, which declared the reshuffle null and void, citing procedural lapses and limitations on the authority of the PNP Chief.
The decision created tension within the police organization and its supervising agencies. Malacañang ultimately opted to replace Torre, a decision Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla later described as a leadership shift rather than a disciplinary action. He clarified that Torre did not commit any legal violations and was not facing administrative charges, but that the President had simply chosen to “go in another direction” for the leadership of the PNP.
Who Is Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr.?
Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. is a veteran police officer and a graduate of the Philippine Military Academy “Tanglaw-Diwa” Class of 1992. Before his appointment as PNP Chief, he served as Deputy Chief for Administration, the second-highest post in the 230,000-strong police force.
Over the past three decades, Nartatez has built an extensive résumé across both field and administrative commands. He once served as Provincial Director of Ilocos Norte, where he was recognized for strengthening community-based policing. He also rose to key leadership roles in Metro Manila (NCRPO) and CALABARZON, managing law enforcement in two of the most challenging regions in the country. At the national headquarters, he headed the Directorate for Intelligence, overseeing sensitive security operations, and later led the Directorate for Comptrollership, ensuring accountability over financial and logistical resources.
Earlier this year, Torre had reassigned Nartatez to Western Mindanao as Area Police Commander, but this reshuffle was among the moves nullified by NAPOLCOM. Ironically, that same controversy paved the way for Nartatez’s elevation to the PNP’s highest post. Known among colleagues as a methodical and disciplined officer, he is seen as a stabilizing figure with both operational experience and organizational management expertise.
What This Means for the PNP
The abrupt turnover at the PNP highlights the ongoing struggles within the institution over command prerogatives, internal reforms, and the balance of authority between the Chief of Police and oversight bodies like NAPOLCOM. While Malacañang has yet to announce Nartatez’s formal priorities, officials from the DILG underscored the need for stability and adherence to legal procedures in appointments and reshuffles.
Nartatez now takes on the challenge of leading the national police at a time of transition and heightened public scrutiny. His leadership will be closely watched for signs of reform, professionalism, and efforts to rebuild trust in the institution after a period of turbulence.
