NARTATEZ TO REPLACE TORRE AS PNP CHIEF

POLICE Lieutenant General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. is set to replace General Nicolas Torre III as head of the Philippine National Police (PNP).

Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Juanito Victor “Jonvic” Remulla made the confirmation Tuesday.

This following a memorandum from Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin for the appointment of Nartatez vice Torre signed on August 25, 2025.

As of this posting, the memorandum is set for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s signature.

Torre was the chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG)  from September 25, 2024 until his installation as PNP chief. 

He became the head of the Police Regional Office 11 (PRO-11) from June 18, 2024 to September 24, 2024. 

Torre spearheaded the capture of Kingdom of Jesus Christ founder Apollo Quiboloy on September 8, 2024 in Davao City over charges of human trafficking and sexual exploitation of minors.

He also led the inter-agency operation to arrest former president Rodrigo Duterte, codenamed “Operation Pursuit,” in response to an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant transmitted by the International Police (Interpol.)  Duterte was apprehended upon arrival in Manila and transported to The Hague on March 11, 2025.

Nartatez, currently the Area Police Commander (APC) for Western Mindanao, previously served as PNP Deputy Chief for Administration and director of the Metro Manila police, Calabarzon police, Directorate for Intelligence, and Directorate for Comptrollership.

He also served as provincial director in Ilocos Norte and held posts in intelligence and investigations in Laguna.

Before his assignment to Mindanao, Nartatez was the PNP’s second in command.

Meanwhile, Bersamin’s letter did not disclose the reason why Torre was removed from his post.