Acting Philippine National Police (PNP) Police Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. aims to reinforce the police force’s role in the country’s anti-insurgency campaign through intensified proactive policing, intelligence gathering, and community engagement.
His commitment follows his recent oath-taking as a member of the Executive Committee (EXECOM) of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) in Malacañang.
The NTF-ELCAC, established in 2018, is a multi-agency task force aimed at addressing the long-standing insurgency led by the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), its armed wing the New People’s Army (NPA), and its political arm, the National Democratic Front (NDF).
“The PNP’s role in the NTF-ELCAC EXECOM is to strengthen law enforcement support for whole-of-nation efforts to end local armed conflict,” Nartatez said in a statement on Sunday, Oct. 5.
He emphasized the critical contribution of the PNP in advancing comprehensive solutions to insurgency and armed conflict, noting, “We will contribute intelligence, community policing, and security operations to ensure that government programs reach conflict-affected areas without disruption. Our mandate is to protect communities and help create an environment where peace and development can take root.”
To align the police force with the goals of the task force, Nartatez committed to intensify proactive policing, intelligence gathering, and community engagement.
He added that the PNP will also work with partner agencies in addressing the root causes of insurgency including poverty, lack of basic services, and community insecurity.
“By working hand-in-hand with other agencies, we can weaken the influence of armed groups and strengthen trust in government,” he said.
There has been a steady decline in the number of communist guerilla fronts in the country, according to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
In terms of manpower, there were 2,008 communist rebels monitored nationwide. By the end of the first semester of 2025, the number had gone down to 901.
In terms of weapons in the rebels’ possession, the AFP official said that from 1,817 firearms in 2022, the number dropped to 731 by the end of first semester of 2025.
As Nartatez assumes his new role in the EXECOM, he laid down three key priorities: to ensure effective and well-coordinated police operations under the national peace framework; to emphasize respect for human rights and the rule of law in all police actions; and to support peacebuilding initiatives that empower local communities and sustain development gains.
“We are here to protect our kababayan, to listen to them, and to help create safe spaces where government services and livelihood opportunities can flourish. We will not allow lawless elements to hold back your progress. With the support of the NTF-ELCAC and our partner agencies, we are committed to building a future of peace, stability, and development for all,” he said. (Martin Sadongdong)
