When the smoke cleared after the tension created by revamp orders in the Philippine National Police (PNP), Gen. Nicolas Torre III, when asked in an Aug. 18 press briefing what would happen to the order of the National Police Commission (Napolcom) he defied, was quoted saying, “let’s see in the next few days.”

Apparently, he did not expect that he would be the one to go.

On Tuesday, Aug. 26, Police Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez, Jr. assumed the country’s top police post in a surprise ceremony presided by Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Jonvic Remulla but was snubbed by Torre at the National Headquarters at Camp Crame in Quezon City.

The turnover of command for the Chief PNP post came just a few hours after news of the Torre’s relief broke in the media, the order was signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, and Remulla said it was approved by President Marcos.

“President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has made a difficult but necessary decision to remove PNP chief General Nicolas Torre III of his duties, the President believes that this nation’s security apparatus has always worked within the framework of the law,” said Remulla in a press briefing before the turnover of command.

“This was not an easy choice but it was made in the national interest,” Remulla added as he emphasized the good working relationship between Torre and Marcos.

Torre was instrumental in the arrest of Kingdom of Jesus Christ leader Apollo Quiboloy and the arrest and transport of former president Rodrigo Duterte to the Netherlands.

In the same press briefing, Remulla confirmed that Torre’s defiance to implement the order to bring back Nartatez as the PNP’s number two man was among the facts presented to Marcos.

How it started

On Aug. 6, Torre approved an order re-assigning Nartatez from PNP’s Deputy Chief for Administration to commander of the Area Police Command-Western Mindanao.

It was actually a swapping of posts between Nartatez and his classmate at the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class 1992, Police Lt. Gen. Bernard Banac.

On Aug. 14, Napolcom issued an order invalidating the revamp order involving Nartatez and Banac.

But what reportedly drew the ire of some ranking police officials was that the same Napolcom order made its own revamp involving at least 10 senior police officers in some key positions that include the National Capital Region Police Office, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and the Police Regional Office 4A, or Calabarzon.

The Napolcom order triggered the issuance of various manifestos of support to Torre, almost all from PNP Academy Classes and PNPA graduates as Torre is the first Lakan (PNPA graduate) appointed as Chief PNP.

Price to pay

Torre appeared to have lost his stand that PNP revamp is under the discretion of the PNP leadership—and it was a big price to pay as it cost his post as the Chief PNP.

Torre’s mandatory retirement age is in March 2027.

In Tuesday’s press briefing, Remulla emphasized the necessity of upholding the rule of law, that includes Napolcom’s supervision and control of the PNP.

Remulla is the chairman of Napolcom.

Triumphant return

And from the threat of being thrown far away to hold a position nobody in the roster of senior police officials actually dream of holding, Nartatez was sworn in as the 32nd Chief PNP on Tuesday.

Even before, Nartatez was already considered as the Chief PNP in waiting—a belief among PNP senior officers that was reinforced by his appointment to several key posts.

Nartatez held the position of director of the PNP Finance Service before he was named as the regional director of the Police Regional Office 4A, or Calabarzon, one of the coveted posts in the PNP.

He was later appointed as NCRPO chief before his designation as the PNP’s number two man, or the Deputy Chief for Administration.