WHEN National Capital Region Office (NCRPO) chief PMGen. Jose Nartatez, Jr. guested at the ‘MACHRA Balitaan sa Harbor View,’ the monthly forum being mounted by the Manila City Hall Reporters’ Association (MACHRA), we were told by colleagues and PNP members alike that we were fortunate to have him sit in a news forum for nearly two hours until the media ran out of questions.
It was another first, just like in the case of most, if not all of the previous guests we have had for the past year and a half.
The good NCRPO chief is taking with a grain of salt comments like he “hindi daw ako maramdaman at di rin nagpapakita o nagsasalita sa media.”
His presence at the ‘MACHRA Balitaan’ belies all that because, in our forum, he sat for about an hour and a half and not only gamely but even lengthily answered all questions thrown at him, even if some were repetitive and others, obviously provocative.
It is understandable why he is not seen in the media all the time.
Judging from his character, I don’t think he is publicity-hungry but he is dead serious about his work and would willingly answer even text messages and calls if his schedule permits.
How do I know? I sent a text message to a number he gave during the forum. I doubted if it belonged to him.
To my surprise, he did not only reply via text but also made a video call twice, to prove that the number was his. Unfortunately, there was something wrong with my Viber and I could not hear a single thing he was saying, so I finished the call and contacted his number the usual way and it was then that we were able to talk. It was a funny and unique experience that I would not forget.
Anyway, just how busy is Gen. Nartatez? He bared that daily, he receives no less than 300 text messages and of the number, he would carefully read about 100. Again of that number, he would call up at least 20, reply to even more and make calls related to the text messages.
These are apart from the PNP members that he would have to call, give guidance or direct to do certain things, from the district directors down to the station commanders, being the top official who has direct supervision over the five police districts in the metro.
No wonder the NCRPO had been consistently in the Top 6 for the past consecutive months when it comes to performance ratings.
Gen. Nartatez is all praises to the heads of the five police districts, especially Manila Police District Director PBGen. Arnold Thomas Ibay who, by the way, was also present in the forum in support of the NCRPO chief and in readiness, in case he would be needed to answer any queries from the media concerning his area of jurisdiction.
Indeed, I agree that PBGen. Ibay complements the hard work that MGen. Nartatez had been exerting to keep Metro Manila peaceful, safe and orderly.
Manila is not only the country’s capital city but is also where the seat of power resides. It is home to Malacanan Palace and the Manila City Hall, aside from other important government offices and the fact that PBGen. Ibay can keep the city free from major incidents is already a boost to the image of the NCRPO and the PNP in general.
About the entire NCR which falls under the area of responsibility (AOR) of PMGen, Nartatez, the task is of course much heavier.
Nartatez says it is indeed a great challenge that his AOR is where 60 percent of the entire country’s economic activities are concentrated, with Metro Manila being the center of the economy and where the biggest vital installations and government offices are located and thus have to be secured at all times.
This is on top of ensuring the safety and security for a normal population of at least 13.5 million which swells due to tourists and the daytime population due to the number of people visiting the metro for various reasons.
He was also preoccupied with cleansing the ranks, baring that he had dismissed 500 cops -colonel being the highest-ranking, so far- while another 500 more have been punished either with demotion or forfeiture of benefits, all for various kinds of infractions. According to Nartatez, this comprises only five percent or even less of the entire police force.
For him, this had to be done because otherwise, it would be unfair to the 95 percent of others who are doing their jobs conscientiously.
Once again, on behalf of MACHRA, I would like to thank PMGen. Nartatez for being MACHRA Balitaan’s solo guest for April.
Special thanks once again goes to MACHRA adviser, City Administrator Bernie Ang, Harbor View management led by BJ Ang and Garrey Garduque, Ms. Maricar ‘Sunshine’ Lat and to our dear friend Lea Botones for having helped squeeze the forum into the NCRPO chief’s super tight schedule. To God be the glory!!!
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