Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Article (news)

Katrina Domingo

Michael Delizo

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1769575313426619530253_1336346855279247_6600000570500262359_n_cropped_processed_by_imagy.jpg" style="width:960px;display:block;height:auto" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. led the donning of 4-star rank to PNP chief Jose Nartatez. PCO/Facebook</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>MANILA <strong>(UPDATE) </strong>— Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. officially obtained the 4-star rank and Police General title in a ceremony held in Malacañang on Wednesday, over 5 months since he was appointed as the country&#x27;s top cop.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/1/21/pnp-oks-torre-s-retirement-paving-way-for-nartatez-promotion-as-pnp-chief-0845">PNP OKs Torre&#x27;s retirement, paving way for Nartatez promotion as PNP chief</a></div><p>President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. led the donning of 4-star rank to Nartatez.</p><p>Nartatez&#x27;s official promotion was delayed as his predecessor Nicolas Torre III held off his retirement after his<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/26/nartatez-to-replace-torre-as-pnp-chief-1004"> firing</a> in August. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/12/26/former-pnp-chief-torre-takes-oath-as-mmda-general-manager-1258">Former PNP chief Torre takes oath as MMDA general manager</a></div><p>This month, the Napolcom announced that Torre was considered retired after he accepted an MMDA post. Torre has disputed his &quot;optional retirement.&quot;</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>&#x27;BASICALLY THE SAME&#x27;</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>In his speech during the arrival ceremony at Camp Crame, Nartatez said he intends to continue his programs in the PNP as he finally received his four-star rank, five months after being appointed as acting chief of the organization.</p><p>He said his directives remain unchanged.</p><p>“Parehas lang naman. When I assumed and took oath on August 26, ang pamumuno ng Philippine National Police ay nasa shoulder ko na at nasa akin na. That was August 26. So happened that mayroon pang isang four-star, ‘yong pinalitan natin. Kaya hindi pa tayo napo-promote noon. Now, I&#x27;ve been promoted by virtue of the promotion order that was given to me by the president and properly endorsed by the Napolcom,” Nartatez told reporters.</p><p>Nartatez was formally conferred the rank at Malacañang on Wednesday, officially becoming the 32nd chief of the PNP, in a rare legal circumstance that delayed his assumption of rank.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/1/22/ex-pnp-chief-torre-denies-applying-for-optional-retirement-0758">Ex-PNP chief Torre denies applying for optional retirement</a></div><p>“This is a unique organization. Officers come and go. Nandoon na siya sa retired and nandoon na siya sa ibang serbisyo, particularly the MMDA,” Nartatez said when asked about his relationship with the former PNP chief, now the general manager of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority.</p><p>Nartatez said Marcos instructed him to ensure safer communities and lower crime rates.</p><p>“Ang pagpababa ng krimen ay isang napakalaking programa. Magagawa mo lang ‘yan, of course, if the Philippine National Police is doing their job,” Nartatez said.</p><p>“Kailangan elite and/or mataas ang morale nila. Papaano mo mapapagawa ulit ‘yan? Mataas ang sweldo; tumaas na ang sweldo natin. Maganda ang training; we have funds, at nagti-training tayo, tuloy-tuloy and we have the necessary equipment. At taon-taon, ini-improve natin ito,” he added.</p><p>The 54-year-old native of Ilocos Sur is set to reach the mandatory retirement age in March 2027.</p><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><em></em><strong>RELATED VIDEOS</strong></div><div><br/></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3IU1X1Qvj-M?&amp;embeds_referring_euri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.abs-cbn.com%2F&amp;source_ve_path=MjM4NTE&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><em></em><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XbLBzDYBLq4?&amp;embeds_referring_euri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.abs-cbn.com%2F&amp;source_ve_path=MjM4NTE&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>PNP chief Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. officially obtained the 4-star rank and Police General title in a ceremony held in Malacañang on Wednesday.</p>

PNP chief Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. officially obtained the 4-star rank and Police General title in a ceremony held in Malacañang on Wednesday.

Nartatez takes oath as PNP chief months after delayed promotion

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Nartatez takes oath as PNP chief months after delayed promotion

Katrina Domingo,

Michael Delizo,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jan 28, 2026 12:46 PM PHT

|

Updated Jan 28, 2026 01:41 PM PHT

Read More:

PNP

Nartatez

police

Philippine National Police

Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr.

Torre

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