5 Contenders Vying for PNP Chief

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.

- By EMMANUEL TUPAS

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 previously 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.