National Police Commission gets a new commissioner
MANILA, Philippines – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has picked lawyer Rafael Vicente Calinisan as a new commissioner of the National Police Commission (Napolcom).
Marcos appointed Calinisan as a new commissioner representing the civilian sector. The Napolcom is composed of commissioners representing various sectors, such as civilian and law enforcement. Calinisan will be part of the body tasked to “exercise administrative control and operational supervision over the PNP (Philippine National Police), with the end in view of ensuring a highly capable, effective and credible police service.”
Calinisan will serve until December 31, 2024. He replaced Alberto Bernardo, who also previously served as Napolcom vice chairperson and executive officer (VCEO).
Before his Napolcom appointment, Calinisan served as chairman and executive officer of Quezon City’s People’s Law Enforcement Board.
A lawyer to celebrities and a certified public accountant, Calinisan obtained his business administration and accountancy degree from the University of the Philippines, while his law degree from the Ateneo de Manila University. He also obtained his Master of Laws degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 2014.
Meanwhile, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla told Rappler that Bernardo was replaced because “his appointment was deemed illegal.”
He earlier told Rappler that his agency would look into the appointments of Napolcom commissioners because some of their appointments could be “irregular.”
“He was appointed contrary to Napolcom rules, which requires a staggered two-year appointment of the four appointive Napolcom board. All four were appointed consecutively at the first quarter of 2022, all serving six-year terms. It was contrary to the charter of Napolcom,” the DILG chief explained.
Marcos has yet to announce who will take Bernardo’s place as VCEO.
Just months before his term ended, former president Rodrigo Duterte appointed Bernardo in March 2022 as Napolcom VCEO and commissioner, replacing former justice secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II.
Prior to his replacement, Rappler has reported some controversies surrounding Bernardo, such as the Commission on Audit’s flagging of Napolcom transactions under his leadership and COA’s questions on his appointment. A Rappler investigation found that Bernardo had retired from government service while he was serving as Napolcom’s VCEO.
Bernardo explained his side and said he had already responded to the COA’s questions. He also told Rappler that retired government officials may be reappointed to another government office.
Before Bernardo, another Duterte-appointed Napolcom commissioner had left the body. Former Napolcom commissioner Edilberto Leonardo resigned in October amid the House of Representatives’ quad committee probe, where he was implicated for his alleged involvement in the drug war and some killings. – Rappler.com