PNP-OIC Nartatez has big shoes to fill, says Lacson
At A Glance
- Sen. Panfilo Lacson said there is a need to revisit the PNP Law as such if a PNP chief is terminated, he is automatically retired to avoid awkward situations where the relieved PNP chief—a four-star general—outranks his successor.
Philippine National Police (PNP) officer-in-charge P/Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. will have big shoes to fill as questions behind the relief of his predecessor continue to linger, Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson said on Wednesday, August 27.
Nartatez replaced P/Gen. Nicolas Torre III after Malacañang suddenly announced his relief on Tuesday (Aug. 26) morning.
Lacson, who served as PNP chief from 1999 to 2001, said Torre earned the public's trust with policies such as the five-minute response time rule for police.
"Lt. Gen. Nartatez faces a big challenge because he has big shoes to fill," Lacson said in Filipino in an interview on DZRH radio.
"I mentioned before that he was the person the PNP needed because he is mission-oriented and is prepared to sacrifice himself to accomplish his mission. He has a good attitude," the senator added, referring to Torre.
Lacson said he believes Torre’s relief could have been avoided had there been better coordination between him and the National Police Commission (Napolcom).
The senator cited one of the reasons why Torre relieved was his failure to comply with the Napolcom's directive reversing his order on the reshuffle of senior police officials, including members of the PNP Command Group.
He earlier noted that Torre may have overstepped his bounds when he reshuffled members of the Command Group.
"We don't know what went on behind the scenes. We're not privy to that," Lacson said.
“If there is something Torre did wrong, it would be failure to communicate with the Napolcom when it reversed his order. Or in the first place, he should have communicated with the Napolcom when he relieved Nartatez,” he said.
Moreover, Lacson said there is a need to revisit the PNP Law as such if a PNP chief is terminated, he is automatically retired to avoid awkward situations where the relieved PNP chief—a four-star general—outranks his successor.
The former PNP chief explained the current law allows for only one four-star general.
Nevertheless, Lacson said he PNP is a professional organization that will follow legal orders from the chain of command.
He also stressed that Torre’s relief is the sole prerogative of the President as commander-in-chief.
"The PNP, like any uniformed organization, will follow the chain of command," he said.