By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA — Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. has expressed full support for the appointment of Gen. Antonio Nafarrete as the new Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), emphasizing the importance of continued collaboration between the country’s two largest uniformed services in safeguarding national security.
In a statement released Wednesday, Nartatez congratulated Nafarrete on his assumption of the military’s highest post and pledged the PNP’s commitment to strengthening its partnership with the Armed Forces in addressing the country’s security challenges.
“On behalf of the men and women of the Philippine National Police, I extend my warmest congratulations to General Antonio Nafarrete on his appointment as Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines,” Nartatez said.
He added that the PNP looks forward to working closely with the new AFP chief in carrying out their shared responsibility of protecting the Filipino people, preserving peace and order, and defending the nation’s security.
Nafarrete, a member of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) “Bigkis-Lahi” Class of 1990, officially assumed command of the AFP on Tuesday following the retirement of Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., whose three-year fixed term ended in accordance with Republic Act No. 11939.
Nartatez, a graduate of the PMA “Tanglaw-Diwa” Class of 1992, also paid tribute to Brawner for his leadership and contributions to strengthening cooperation between the AFP and the PNP.
“We extend our sincere gratitude to General Romeo Brawner Jr. for his dedicated service and steadfast leadership. We thank him for reinforcing the strong partnership between the Armed Forces and the Philippine National Police, and we wish him continued success in his future endeavors,” the PNP chief said.
The leadership transition comes as the AFP continues to address evolving internal and external security concerns, including the country’s territorial defense and maritime security operations.
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