Pray as though everything depended on God. Work as though everything depended on you.
— Saint Augustine
IN a time when leadership is often measured by command and visibility, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Lieutenant General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. stands out for his quiet strength and humility.
During the enthronement and first day of the Novena Mass of the Canonically Crowned Image of Nuestra Señora del Pilar de Manila at the Santa Cruz Parish in Manila, the country’s Top Cop was seen bowing before the altar—a general not in command but in prayer.
Presided over by His Eminence Manila Archbishop Jose Cardinal Advincula, the Mass was solemn yet powerful, a moment that reflected reverence and surrender to a higher will.
For civic leader Dr. Jose Antonio Goitia, chairman emeritus of the 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, the PNP chief’s humble gesture revealed the essence of moral leadership: “When a man of power kneels before God, he elevates not just himself but the institution he represents.”
Goitia noted that “the highest form of authority is moral authority and one that draws strength from faith, not fear”—something Chief Nartatez cleared showed in kneeling before God’s altar.
“His presence at the Mass was not ceremonial but deeply personal. Throughout his service, he has emphasized that faith and discipline must go together, and that spiritual strength completes the character of a true officer,” the civic leader pointed out.
According to the PNP, the general’s attendance affirmed the organization’s support for faith-based programs that nurture values and build unity between the police and the people they serve.
“This balance between faith and duty is what restores public trust. Leadership is not only a duty of the mind and the hand. It is also a duty of the heart. Chief Nartatez leads with the humility to serve and the courage to believe,” Goitia asserted.
As the nation’s top police officer, Nartatez carries immense responsibility. Yet amid the weight of command, he remains calm, grounded and guided by conviction and as a commander of the national police force, he is expending efforts to show that kneeling before God is not a sign of weakness but of strength.”
For Goitia, true leadership begins with faith: “When faith guides leadership, integrity becomes instinct. That is what we see in Chief Nartatez, a man of the law who also walks in the light of faith. A commander who kneels before God will never bow to corruption, fear, or deceit. He serves a higher command, and that command is truth.”
* * *
FOR your comments or suggestions, complaints or requests, just send a message through my email at cipcab2006@yahoo.com or text me at cellphone numbers 09171656792 or 09171592256 during office hours from Monday to Friday. Thank you and mabuhay!
