{{Short description|Former chief of the Philippine National Police}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}} {{Philippine name|Pardo|Nazareno}} {{Infobox officeholder | honorific_prefix = Retired Police Director General | name = Cesar Nazareno | image = | image_size = | birth_date = {{birth date|mf=yes|1940|12|05}} | birth_name = Cesar Pardo Nazareno | death_date = {{death date and age|mf=yes|2006|10|30|1940|12|05}} | office = Chief of the Philippine National Police | president = {{ubl| * Corazon Cojuangco Aquino * Fidel Valdez Ramos |}} | term_start = March 31, 1991 | term_end = August 28, 1992 | predecessor = ''Position established''{{efn|PNP formed in 1991, Nazareno is the last Chief of the Philippine Constabulary|name=fn6}} | office2 = Chief of the Philippine Constabulary | status2 = Director General of the Integrated National Police | president2 = Corazon Cojuangco Aquino | term_start2 = March 31, 1990 | term_end2 = March 31, 1991 | predecessor2 = BGen. Ramon Montaño | successor2 = ''Position abolished''{{efn|Philippine Constabulary abolished, Nazareno is retained as assigned as Chief of the Philippine National Police|name=fn7}} | successor = PDGen. Raul Imperial | alma_mater = Philippine Military Academy | unit = Regional Command 3 (RECOM3) | service_years = 1961–1991 | branch = Philippine Constabulary | module = {{Infobox police officer | other_names = | child = yes | service_label = Service | service = Philippine National Police | service_years = 1991–1992 | department_label = Divisions | department = | branch_label = Police offices | branch = | badge_number = | rank = {{nowrap|20px Police Director General}} }} }}
'''Cesar Pardo Nazareno''' (December 5, 1940 – October 30, 2006) was a retired Filipino police officer who served as the inaugural Chief of the Philippine National Police from March 31, 1991, until August 28 of 1992.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Farolan |first=Ramon |date=2014-12-15 |title=An OIC for the PNP |url=https://opinion.inquirer.net/80946/an-oic-for-the-pnp |access-date=2024-08-29 |website=INQUIRER.net |language=en}}</ref>
== Career == Nazareno, a Philippine Military Academy class of 1961 member,<ref name=":0" /> served in the Philippine Constabulary.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2006-10-30 |title=Ex-police chief Nazareno passes away |url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/19234/ex-police-chief-nazareno-passes-away/story/ |access-date=2024-08-29 |website=GMA News Online |language=en}}</ref>
While as a colonel and deputy chief of Western Police District,<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Adraneda |first=Katherine |date=January 23, 2006 |title=Survivors, kin of victims still await justice 19 years after Mendiola massacre |url=https://qa.philstar.com/headlines/2006/01/23/318051/survivors-kin-victims-still-await-justice-19-years-after-mendiola-massacre |access-date=2024-08-29 |website=Philstar.com}}</ref> he was tasked to guard the Mendiola Street in 1987, where the agrarian militants protesting against the administration of Corazon Aquino. His unit was called Task Force Nazareno, named after him. But the protests resulted into a known-massacre.<ref name=":2" />
He served as the chief of its Central Luzon unit, Regional Command 3 (RECOM 3), in 1989 while coup against President Aquino was prevalent. Later, after General Ramon Montaño retired, Nazareno became the Chief of the Philippine Constabulary.<ref>https://pro3.pnp.gov.ph/history/</ref>
When the military constabulary replaced by the civilianized Philippine National Police, Nazareno was retained and became its inaugural chief in 1991 and served until August 1992.<ref name=":1" />
== Politics == Nazareno supported Ping Lacson's 2004 campaign.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Diaz |first=Jess |title=110 PMA, ROTC alumni support Ping |url=https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2004/04/26/247708/110-pma-rotc-alumni-support-ping |access-date=2023-12-03 |website=Philstar.com}}</ref>
== Corruption charges == Nazareno have corruption charges involving ghost purchases of combat uniforms and equipment worth P38.2 million. But when died in 2006 with the case still unresolved.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pamintuan |first=Ana Marie |date=January 29, 2006 |title=PNP purge |url=https://www.philstar.com/opinion/2023/01/09/2236239/pnp-purge |access-date=2024-08-29 |website=Philstar.com}}</ref>
In 2009, the Supreme Court cleared General Nazareno of the charges. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Punay |first=Edu |date=August 29, 2009 |title=Supreme Court Clears |url=https://www.philstar.com/metro/2009/08/29/499976/supreme-court-clears-3-pnp-generals-anomalous-gun-purchase}}</ref>
== Death == Nazareno died of October 30, 2006 at The Medical City in Pasig.<ref name=":1" />
==Notes== {{notelist}}
== References == <references responsive="1"></references>
{{S-start}} {{s-civ|pol}} {{S-bef | before = First holder }} {{S-ttl | title = Chief of the Philippine National Police | service_years = March 31, 1991 – August 28, 1992 }} {{S-aft | after = PDGEN Raul Imperial }} {{S-end}}{{Philippine National Police Chiefs}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nazareno, Cesar}} Category:1940 births Category:2006 deaths Category:Filipino police chiefs Category:Filipino police officers Category:Philippine Constabulary personnel