From the Website of PNA
links https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1257395
Napolcom to issue reso affirming Nartatez as acting PNP chief
-----------------------------------------------
MANILA – Newly installed acting chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Lt. Gen. Jose
Nartatez, in a TV interview, revealed he has yet to talk to former PNP chief Gen. Nicolas Torre III after the change in the force’s leadership, but added that he might meet Torre at the Office of the PNP chief at Camp Crame on Wednesday.
“Yung turnover naman ay smooth so wala tayong nakikitang krisis and ngayon ay nagtawagan na yung ating mga commanders at ineensure nila na yung kada opisina nila ay intact and performing their normal duty. So I don’t see any crisis in our organization. Otherwise it would be a breakdown of discipline. So wala tayong nakikita (The turnover is smooth so we don't see any crisis and now our commanders called and assured that each of their offices is intact and performing their normal duty. So I don't see any crisis in our organization. Otherwise it would be a breakdown of discipline. So we don't see anything),” said Nartatez.
The new PNP chief vowed to focus on the morale and welfare of police officers through education and other programs that would improve the professionalism of the uniformed personnel.
He, however, vowed to be tough against erring cops.
“We will rigorously implement integrity monitoring at all levels. To weed out rogues in service, integrity is the cornerstone of public service, essential in gaining the trust and confidence of the community,” said Nartatez in his speech on Tuesday.
Nartatez also wanted to further improve police capabilities in running after cybercriminals because it is becoming more rampant and as such, there is a need to refocus on the support system to properly address them.
“Our cybercrime capabilities must be responsive and should adapt to the latest cyber threats and trends. We will prevent these crimes proactively by establishing mechanisms to address emerging threats swiftly,” said Nartatez.
Aside from cybercrime, Nartatez said he will also prioritize strategic deployment to beef up police visibility in every community as part of crime prevention measures.
He said these will be complemented by investigative solutions to ensure apprehension and conviction of the offenders.
He said the campaign against illegal drugs, loose firearms and terrorism will also continue since records would reveal that these are the usual reasons for committing crimes in the country. This, he said, will be reinforced by securing vital installations of the country.
Nartatez said he will retain the five-minute police response program started by his predecessor “to assure the public of timely intervention and protection.”
He likewise urged all members of the PNP to work together to achieve President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s goal of a safe and secured community.
“Let us forge a path of hope and integrity as we move forward, and enhance the vision set forth by our President,” said Nartatez, who is set to retire in March 2027 like Torre.
Physical fitness
In a radio interview, Nartatez, meanwhile, urged police officers to remain physically fit by passing a physical fitness test (PFT) and obtaining a normal body mass index (BMI).
“Pagdating diyan sa mga training, mayroon yung tinatawag nating periodic health and physical fitness program of the PNP (When it comes to training there is what we call the periodic health and physical fitness program of the PNP),” said Nartatez.
“Aside from the placement, we ensure during the placement and promotion that they should be compliant or naipasa itong (they passed the) physical fitness test and BMI among others. Ipagpapatuloy natin iyan (We will continue that),” he stressed.
The BMI is a measure of body fat based on height and weight that applies to adult men and women. It is obtained by dividing a person’s weight expressed in kilograms by his or her height in meters.
For most adults, an ideal BMI ranges from 18.5 to 24.9. A range of 25 to 29.9 is considered overweight, while those having 30 and above are considered obese.
Big shoes to fill
Meanwhile, Senator Panfilo Lacson on Wednesday said the new PNP officer-in-charge is facing a big challenge in his new post.
"Lt. Gen. Nartatez faces a big challenge because he has big shoes to fill," he said in Filipino in a radio interview.
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.
"I mentioned before that he (Torre) 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," he noted.
Still, Lacson said there are questions surrounding Torre's relief, which he said could have been avoided had there been better coordination between Torre and the National Police Commission (Napolcom).
Lacson also said following Torre's relief and his replacement by Nartatez, there is a need to revisit the PNP Law such that 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 since the current law allows for only one four-star general.
He said what the public is privy to is that one of the reasons why Torre was 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.
Lacson 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," the senator 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."
Still, Lacson said the PNP is a professional organization that will follow legal orders from the chain of command. He said the relief of Torre 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. (With a report from Leonel Abasola/PNA)
PNA Websites
links:
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
OTHER HUMAN RIGHTS PROMOTIONS WEBSITES
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------
