THIS officer has been described by many as a “real PNP chief-in-waiting.”

He also has the distinction of being the last member of Philippine Military Academy (PMA) “Tanglaw-Diwa” Class of 1992 who will retire from the police force.

Lieutenant General Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr., the current Deputy Chief for Administration of the Philippine National Police (PNP), is known to many as “Tateng.”

As the PNP’s second highest official, Nartatez assists PNP Chief General Rommel Francisco D. Marbil in administering police matters pertaining to human resources and doctrine development, logistics, comptrollership, technical research and material development activities.

On February 27, 2025, he was tasked to assist in the exercise of police operational functions, including the intensified law enforcement operations during the election period, anti-illegal drug operations and the PNP’s aggressive crime prevention strategies.

Nartatez has a proven combat track record and integrity which will make his ancestors, led by the mighty Gabriela Silang, really proud.

The official has risen to become one of the most distinguished figures in the 232,000-strong police force with his exemplary career spanning decades of untarnished service reputation, dedication and leadership, as he continues to set the standard for law enforcement excellence.

Retiring from the police force on March 19, 2027, the official is a direct underclassman of Marbil of PMA “Sambisig” Class of 1991.

In case he gets the top PNP post after Marbil, Nartatez will have 21 months to guide the police force before he hangs his uniform.

Born in Santa, Ilocos Sur, Nartatez was Ilocos Norte Police Provincial Office (PPO) director in 2017. He previously commanded the Police Regional Office (PRO) 4-A and the National Capital Region Police Office in Metro Manila.

He also previously headed the PNP Finance Service (FS) and was a former PNP Director for Comptrollership and later PNP Director for Intelligence.

He spent his formative years in Metro Manila excelling in his primary and secondary education where he graduated with honors.

At 17, he was admitted to Fort del Pilar in 1988 and graduated with distinction as a member of the PMA Class 1992. The official earned a degree of Master in Public Administration while at the PNP.

To many of his peers, colleagues and subordinates, he personifies the ideal police officer, one with a well-rounded career in the service, having an extensive experience in all his command, staff and field assignments.

The official is also an experienced police dive supervisor and a graduate of courses in crisis response, critical incident management, intelligence, basic airborne, underwater operation and urban counter-revolutionary warfare courses.

In August 2002, he returned to Calabarzon to serve as the chief of the Laguna PPO from 2004 to 2006.

Men and women of PRO4-A noted him for transformational leadership as Calabarzon police officials said he only put in the work that is necessary, not only to improve the capabilities of the unit, but also to refine its image in the hearts and minds of the people they have sworn to serve and protect.

As a young lieutenant, Nartatez had his real baptism of fire in the battlefields of Quezon, Laguna, Basilan, Sultan and Tawi-Tawi and later in Negros Island. He spent the first five years of his career as an officer of the PNP Special Action Force (SAF).

It was at the PNP-SAF where he got his training for the rigors of the police service. He was once commanding officer of the PNP-SAF’s 3rd Special Action Battalion in Isabela City, Basilan in 1993.

The strong career foundation he built in the PNP-SAF would later qualify him for positions in the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) and the defunct Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force under former PNP chief and Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson.

He also became chief of the Sta. Cruz Municipal Police Station in Zambales and company commander of the 314th Provincial Mobile Group of the Zambales PPO.

Nartatez also served as deputy chief of the PNP-Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit, chief of the CIDG Special Reaction Unit and chief of the CIDG-Southern Metro Manila Field Office and its Major Crime Investigation Unit.

He also worked in higher offices and in several support units starting with the PTCFOR (Permit-to-Carry-Firearms-Outside-of-Residence) Secretariat, and served as budget officer of the PNP Logistics Support Service and senior executive assistant to former PNP Chief General Jesus A. Verzosa.

He was also designated as comptroller of the Cordillera PRO before being transferred in 2016 to the Ilocos Norte PPO where he served as its provincial director for 27 months.

As a leader, he is a firm believer of capacity building through massive infrastructure development. The tangible legacy of his leadership is found in Camp Valentin S. Juan, the headquarters of the Ilocos Norte PPO.

Nartatez reached the star-rank when he became executive officer of the PNP Directorate for Research and Development, before becoming the director of the PNP-FS where he served for 21 months.

As director of the PNP-FS, he pioneered in innovative intervention in solving administrative and operational dysfunctions of the unit at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

His six-point action plan revolutionized the systems and processes of the PNP-FS. By investing in digital technologies with upgraded IT equipment and stronger IT capabilities, the PNP-FS became the most transformed PNP National Support Unit in the PNP organization during the pandemic period.

During his incumbency, the PNP-FS became the third office under his leadership to become ISO-Certified, preceded by PTCFOR in 2010 and the Office of the Chief, PNP in 2019.

He also left behind a mark of excellence for his other successors to sustain.

As PNP-FS director, the unit was adjudged as Best National Administrative Support Unit of the Year and received the Best NASU Streamer from President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. during the 121st PNP Service Anniversary in August 2022.

His long list of medals, awards and citations, written in five full pages of his PNP Personal Data record, is a testament to his sterling leadership, outstanding performance and professional competence.

He was awarded multiple times as Best Junior Officer, Best Staff Officer, Best PCO of the Year and other similar recognitions in almost all of his assignments.

In 2006, he was promoted to Police Lieutenant Colonel.