PNP’s intel chief is new NCRPO head

MANILA, Philippines — The top spook of the Philippine National Police (PNP) is the new chief of the police force in Metro Manila.

Brig. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. was designated as director of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) yesterday, replacing Maj. Gen. Edgar Alan Okubo, who was appointed head of the PNP Directorate for Police Community Relations (DPCR).

As director of the NCRPO, Nartatez has operational control and supervision over the five police districts in Metro Manila.

Nartatez belongs to the Philippine Military Academy (PMA)’s Tanglaw Diwa Class of 1992.

Before he was appointed as NCRPO chief, he was the PNP’s director for intelligence. He also served as director for comptrollership and once headed the Calabarzon police.

In his younger years, Nartatez served as police director in Ilocos Norte, the home province of President Marcos. He will retire on March 19, 2027.

Nartatez is among the eight ranking police officials who got new posts yesterday.

Taking over Nartatez’s previous post as Directorate for Intelligence head is Maj. Gen. Jon Arnaldo, the former head of the Directorate for Human Resource and Doctrine Development (DHRDD).

Maj. Gen. Eric Noble, the former director of the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA), is now the chief of the Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management (DIDM).

Noble led the internal cleansing drive at the PNPA, which resulted in the dismissal of seven cadets this year for various offenses and academic deficiencies. Replacing him as PNPA director is Brig. Gen. Samuel Nacion.

Maj. Gen. Mario Reyes, formerly of the DPCR, was transferred to the Directorate for Logistics.

Brig. Gen. Ronald Lee, who was deputy director for intelligence, was designated DHRDD director.

The Highway Patrol Group has a new director in the person of Brig. Gen. Alan Nazarro.