QUEZON CITY—Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. ordered all commanders and personnel on May 19, to tune out social media political noise and focus entirely on public safety. 

Nartatez warned that online intrigues and attempts to drag police officers into partisan politics are deliberate distractions meant to disrupt the country's peace and order gains. 

“These intrigues and political noises, including attempts to encourage any of our personnel to engage in partisan politics, are meant to distract us from performing our job well and sustaining our gains on peace and order,” General Nartatez highlighted in a statement.

Instead of letting criticisms divide the force, he urged the PNP to use the digital chatter as motivation to sharpen their service and protect the public.

The PNP’s top official emphasized that the PNP's official mandate remains completely unchanged despite the current political climate. 

He pointed to falling nationwide crime rates and high public trust ratings as proof of the organization's steady commitment to duty. 

Moving forward, Nartatez vowed to keep the momentum going by working closely with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) under Secretary Jonvic Remulla to enforce internal reforms that make citizens feel secure.

“The PNP remains completely focused on its mandate and other reform measures, including the integration of the policies of the DILG under Secretary Jonvic Remulla on internal reforms and actions that will make the public feel safe,” The Chief of PNP said.

To back this directive, regional and local police units are intensifying community-level operations rather than engaging with online debates. 

The PNP is currently ramping up its "Safer Cities" initiative, boosting police visibility, and sharpening emergency response times across the country. 

Nartatez reassured the public that the force will continue to focus its energy on crime prevention, anti-illegal drug operations, and cracking down on smuggled goods.