By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA — Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. has thrown his support behind a proposal to keep Brig. Gen. Hansel Marantan as regional director of the Police Regional Office 4A (Calabarzon) for another year despite his approaching mandatory retirement.
Nartatez confirmed that he has already signed a resolution prepared by the National Police Commission (Napolcom) endorsing Marantan’s continued service beyond the retirement age.
The recommendation stemmed from a request made by Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla, who chairs the Napolcom, seeking a one-year extension for Marantan’s leadership in the region.
Marantan is scheduled to reach the compulsory retirement age of 56 on July 10. However, under existing procedures, any extension of service remains subject to review and approval by the appropriate government authorities.
According to Nartatez, the proposal is still under deliberation by the concerned officials before a final decision is made.
As head of the Calabarzon police, Marantan oversees law enforcement operations across the provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon—one of the country’s most populous and strategically significant regions. Cavite is also the home province of Secretary Remulla.
Marantan previously figured in the high-profile Atimonan incident in 2013, in which 13 people were killed during a police operation in Quezon province. He was later acquitted, along with 11 other police officers, by a Manila court, clearing them of criminal liability in the case.
ia/xf
