5 contenders vying for PNP chief

MANILA, Philippines — Five potential successors of Philippine National Police chief Gen. Rommel Marbil are being considered to be the next head of the 235,000-member PNP.

The race is turning out to be a face-off between the remaining graduates of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) in the PNP and the Philippine National Police Academy.

Among the frontrunners from the PMA is PNP deputy chief for administration Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr., a member of Tanglaw-Diwa Class of 1992, which is the last batch of officers from the premier military academy to enter the police force.

The 54-year-old Nartatez previuosly headed the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO). He also served as police director of Ilocos Norte, the home province of President Marcos.

Another contender is Lt. Gen. Bernard Banac, the commander of the Area Police Command Western Mindanao and a member of PMA Class 1992.

Banac was former director of the elite Special Action Force (SAF) and headed the Eastern Visayas police.

He supervised the conduct of the midterm elections at the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

Banac also served as PNP public information officer and spokesman.

From the PNPA, among the candidates is Criminal Investigation and Detection Group director Maj. Gen. Nicolas Torre III of Tagapaglunsad Class of 1993.

Torre was the ground commander of the operation that arrested former president Rodrigo Duterte on March 11.

Torre did not leave Villamor Air Base in Pasay City until Duterte boarded the private jet that took the former president to The Hague.

Duterte is facing trial for crimes against humanity before the International Criminal Court.

As director of the Davao region police, Torre also led thousands of police officers in the arrest of Apollo Quiboloy, the leader of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ who was wanted for sex crimes, in September 2024.

Torre also introduced the five-minute response to crime policy when he was the director of the Quezon City Police District.

Another candidate is Lt. Gen. Edgar Alan Okubo, chief of the directorial staff and member of the PNPA Tagapagpatupad Class of 1992.

Okubo heads a special investigation task group probing the kidnapping and murder of Filipino-Chinese steel magnate Anson Que.

Okubo, who hails from Baguio City, served as head of the Directorate for Police Community Relations, SAF and NCRPO.

The fifth contender for the PNP chief is NCRPO director Maj. Gen. Anthony Aberin, who is a member of PNPA Class of 1993.

Aberin has ordered an investigation of 28 police commanders in Metro Manila for operational lapses and other violations.

He served as director of the Central Visayas police and the Aviation Security Group.

With his term extension ending on June 7, Marbil expressed confidence in the capabilities of his possible successors to lead the PNP.

“They have their own strengths and weaknesses. They are all capable to lead the PNP,” Marbil has said.

Marbil hopes that whoever will succeed him will continue the programs he implemented in the PNP.