Acting Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. on Monday lauded police officers for their disciplined handling of recent protest actions while calling on the force to remain professional as larger demonstrations are expected in the coming days.

Speaking during the flag-raising ceremony at Camp Crame, Nartatez praised the “maximum tolerance” exercised by police during last week’s “Black Friday” rallies, which he described as “generally peaceful.”

He emphasized that ensuring public safety while respecting the rights of demonstrators must remain the PNP’s guiding principle.

“I urge all of you to continue performing your duties with dedication and professionalism. Protecting the public is not just our responsibility, it is our honor,” Nartatez said.

The acting PNP chief underscored that professionalism is key to maintaining public trust, especially as protests swell over corruption controversies involving government officials.

A larger nationwide rally is anticipated on September 21, coinciding with transport strikes and other coordinated protest actions.

His remarks came after a group of retired PNP and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) officers released an open letter urging House Speaker Martin Romualdez to resign amid corruption allegations.

The AFP leadership, however, has already reaffirmed its loyalty to the Constitution and distanced itself from the call.