PNP shakeup: Banac, Nartatez swap posts

MANILA, Philippines — Former Philippine National Police spokesman Lt. Gen. Bernard Banac is now the PNP’s No. 2 man.

PNP chief Gen. Nicolas Torre III on Tuesday designated Banac as the police force’s deputy chief for administration.

Banac swapped posts with his classmate at the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1992, Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr., who was named head of the Area Police Command for Western Mindanao.

Their new designations took effect yesterday.

As the second in command, Banac has control and supervision over national administrative support units and PNP offices performing administrative functions.

He will perform other duties that may be delegated to him by Torre.

Banac has a stellar career in the PNP, having served as director of the Special Action Force, Directorate for Information and Communications Technology Management, Directorate for Plans and Training Service.

He also headed the PNP’s public information office.

From handling the administrative affairs of the entire PNP, Nartatez will now supervise police operations in the Zamboanga Peninsula, Soccsksargen and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

The PNP has yet to issue a statement on why Nartatez, from occupying the second highest post in the police organization, was relegated to an area police command.

Nartatez, described by some peers as overly strict, had served as director of the Calabarzon police and the National Capital Region Police Office.