MANILA – Philippine National Police (PNP) Acting Chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez on Wednesday said he has ordered an audit of all police units and a review of the organization’s policies on deployment and appointments.

“We will audit the units, all of the positions in the Philippine National Police,” Nartatez told reporters at Camp Crame, without providing a timeframe or details on who would conduct the audit.

He explained that deployment decisions will be aligned with operational needs. “Kung mayroon tayong activities or major operations or major missions within our jurisdiction, then we have to place somebody there, including the team na mapupunta doon (If we have activities or major operations or major missions within our jurisdiction, then we have to place somebody there, including the team to get there),” he said.

Nartatez was sworn in as the country’s new top cop following the relief of former PNP chief Gen. Nicolas Torre III. Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla earlier said Torre was removed in connection, among other reasons, with his controversial Aug. 6 revamp order.

The new PNP chief said he would implement reassignments, starting with the designation of a new spokesperson. He noted that the spokesperson should come from the Public Information Office (PIO) headed by Brig. Gen. Randulf Tuaño, whom he described as a possible choice.

Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo, who served as spokesperson under Torre, had also been given a concurrent role at the Directorate for Comptrollership. Nartatez said Fajardo will no longer serve as PNP spokesperson, though no official order has been issued yet.

Nartatez also vowed to comply with the National Police Commission’s (Napolcom) resolution recalling Torre’s revamp order, saying officials affected by the directive will return to their posts.

“I will tackle that with Napolcom and for sure i-implement natin ‘yon. Alam niyo ang Napolcom siya ang watchdog sa PNP, siya ang repository ng ating mga policies and circulars (I will tackle that with Napolcom and for sure we will implement it. You know, Napolcom is the watchdog of the PNP, the repository of our policies and circulars),” he said.

“The PNP is under their administrative control and operational supervision. Meron tayong batas na 6975. ‘Pagka hindi natin sinunod, para saan pa ‘yong batas (We have Republic Act 6975. If we don’t follow it, then what is the law for)?” he added.

Torre previously disregarded a Napolcom resolution reversing his Aug. 6 order to reassign several PNP officials, including Nartatez. In the order, Torre reassigned Nartatez, then Deputy Chief for Administration, to switch posts with their Philippine Military Academy classmate Lt. Gen. Bernard Banac, who was commander of the Area Police Command-Western Mindanao.

Napolcom invalidated Torre’s revamp order a week later. (PNA)