PNP sees Nartatez's 4 stars after Torre’s retirement in March 2027

The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday said it is possible that the organization’s acting chief Police Lieutenant General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. will receive the four-star rank after the retirement of former chief Police Lieutenant General Nicolas Torre III.

“Mananatili po na yung ating batas na isa lamang po dapat ang may four stars,” PNP public information office chief Police Brigadier General Randulf Tuaño said in a press briefing.

(Our law that only one person should have four stars will be observed.)

“Gusto din po natin yung natural course ng kanilang retirement na parehong silang March 2027….After retirement ng retirement [ni Torre], two weeks po, possible po na maging four stars ang ating Chief PNP si General Nartatez,” he added.

(We also want the natural course of their retirement, which is both in March 2027…after Torre’s retirement, two weeks, it is possible that our PNP Chief General Nartatez will receive four stars.)

Torre is set to retire on March 11, 2027 while Nartatez on March 19, 2027. If Torre will keep his four-star rank until retirement, Nartatez will hold the highest rank only for eight days. 

Amid the issue of Torre outranking Nartatez, the National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) on September 1 affirmed the appointment of the PNP acting chief.

The NAPOLCOM said Nartatez’ designation was “necessary” because former PNP chief Police General Nicolas Torre III, though relieved from his post, continues to hold the rank of Police General — a rank that by law can only be vested in a single officer at a time.”

Its Resolution No. 2025-0552 affirmed that “Nartatez, as Acting Chief, is fully vested with legal authority to exercise and discharge all powers, prerogatives, and responsibilities of the Chief of the PNP.”

On August 26, Nartatez took over the PNP as acting chief after the sudden relief of Torre from the top post, which was announced the same day. 

Just nearly three months ago on June 2, Torre took over the police organization.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla earlier said one of the reasons Torre was relieved from his post as PNP chief was his defiance of a NAPOLCOM order on the reassignment of key officials. —LDF, GMA Integrated News