Police Brig. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. officially took command of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) on Friday, July 7, stressing that he will prioritize police engagement with the community to preserve the peace and order in Metro Manila.
Police Brig. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. (right) shakes the hand of Police Maj. Gen. Edgar Allan Okubo as the former takes command of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) in a ceremony officiated by Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Police Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. (center) at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City on July 7, 2023. (Photo by Juan Carlo de Vela / MANILA BULLETIN)
Nartatez replaced Maj. Gen. Edgar Allan Okubo, who was named the new chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Directorate for Police Community Relations (DPCR), in a turnover of command ceremony presided by PNP chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. at the NCRPO headquarters in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City.
“According to the Chief PNP, we (should) enhance our community engagement. How can we communicate with the people without it? They might turn to our enemies,” Nartatez said.
The new NCRPO chief said that chiefs of police and station commanders should get out of their air conditioned offices and interact with the communities to establish good rapport with the people.
“Baka mamaya nandoon lang sa opisina, maputi na sila, nasa aircon. Papaano sila makaka-engage? (They might just be stagnant in their offices, they already have white complexion because their rooms are airconditioned. How can they engage [the people]?) The instruction is to fully engage the community,” Nartatez added.
In the far-flung areas, Nartatez shared that residents call cops whenever they need government help.
“In the far-flung areas, their resemblance of the government when I was still an inspector or lieutenant until I became a lieutenant colonel is the police. If they have no one to turn to, they call the cops,” he stated.
Part of the priorities of the NCRPO under the leadership of Nartatez is the upcoming second State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on July 24.
“One of my focus agenda is to review, revisit police operations and recraft police operations specifically in the management of security operations and recurring activities,” Nartatez said.
“We still have two weeks and our plan for that is on the go. I still need to check it to see to it that it has been rehearsed,” he added.
Asked if he already has plans for the expected SONA protests by militant groups, Nartatez said: “They are part of the community and we will engage them.”
Nartatez is a product of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) “Tanglaw Diwa” Class of 1992.
Prior to becoming the NCRPO chief, he served as the PNP’s director for intelligence. He also became the director for comptrollership, and regional director of the Calabarzon Police Regional Office (PRO-4A) covering Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon.
In his early years as a police officer, he was appointed as the police director in Ilocos Norte.