IN an institution often defined by hierarchy and command, PNP Acting Chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. offered a quiet image of humility.
At the Novena Mass of Nuestra Señora del Pilar de Manila at Sta. Cruz Parish on Friday, the three-star general, dressed simply, was seen kneeling before the altar during the mass led by Manila Archbishop Jose Cardinal Advincula — a gesture that caught the attention of many inside the church.
For Dr. Jose Antonio Goitia, chairman emeritus of associations of various civic groups, said the moment reflected “a kind of leadership that draws strength not from power, but from faith.”
“When someone in authority kneels before God, he reminds us that no rank stands higher than humility,” Goitia said.
Nartatez has often emphasized discipline, faith, and compassion as part of his approach to leadership within the police force.
Under his term, the PNP has continued programs that promote spiritual formation and community trust-building — efforts meant to remind police personnel that moral grounding is as essential as law enforcement.
Goitia noted that while Nartatez leads one of the country’s most powerful institutions, his gestures reflect a man who recognizes the weight — and limits — of authority.
“Real strength isn’t about showing control,” Goitia added. “It’s about knowing when to bow your head.”
Observers say Nartatez’s public act of prayer is rare among top police officials, but it resonated in a time when public trust in institutions remains fragile.
“Leadership guided by faith doesn’t mean religion takes over governance,” Goitia, chairperson emeritus of four civic organizations – Alyansa ng Bantay sa Kapayapaan at Demokrasya (ABKD), People’s Alliance for Democracy and Reforms (PADER), Liga Independencia Pilipinas (LIPI), and Filipinos Do Not Yield (FDNY) Movement, said.
“It means decisions are grounded in conscience and integrity — values we need now more than ever.”
Behind the uniform and the rank, Nartatez projects a message that resonates beyond the police force: that humility, faith, and service can still coexist in power. (Maria Son)
