He Who Polices the Police

LEADING NAPOLCOM, ATTY. VICENTE RAFAEL CALINISAN CHAMPIONS INTEGRITY AND PUBLIC TRUST. DRIVEN BY A GENUINE COMMITMENT TO SERVE, HE ADVOCATES REFORMS AND SEEKS TO BUILD A PRINCIPLED, PROFESSIONAL, AND PEOPLE-CENTERED POLICE FORCE FILIPINOS CAN TRUST AND BE PROUD OF.

Attorney Vicente Rafael Calinisan grew up in a family of police officers, and had initially wanted to join the Philippine National Police (PNP). He wanted to follow in the footsteps of his parents, who both served in the PNP. His father is retired Police General Roberto "Bobby" Calinisan, who is known as "Mr. Clean," for he left a legacy of an unblemished record never tainted by scandal. His mother is retired Colonel Elena Calinisan, who also served as a nurse in the police force. Ironically, his parents discouraged him from joining the PNP, saying, "It's enough that the two of us are already in the uniformed service. You shouldn't join anymore." Burning with the desire to join the police force, he secretly applied to the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA). As fate would have it, however, the PNPA entrance exam coincided with his accounting exam at the University of the Philippines Diliman, where he was studying business administration and accountancy. He chose to stick to his course at UP, and he eventually became a certified public accountant and then a lawyer.

A CALLING FOR A GREATER PURPOSE

He may not have worn the police uniform he once dreamed of wearing, but fate still brought Calinisan to the organization he had been wanting to serve. Today, as vice chairperson and executive officer of the National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM), he can say that he has fulfilled his childhood dream, albeit indirectly.

A CPA-lawyer by profession and with a Master of Laws degree from the University of Pennsylvania, his impressive credentials could have assured him of a lucrative career in the corporate world in the Philippines or in the United States. But as he puts it, “I chose to come back. So sometimes I wonder what my life would have been like if I hadn't returned. But I'm a Filipino, and I want to chart my life, and the country's future, here in the Philippines."

Calinisan's decision to return to the Philippines and pursue a career in government service stemmed not only from his idealism to help others but also from his deep gratitude. He refers to his decision as bayad-utang, paying back the kindness, opportunities, and sacrifices that others had given him in the past. His parents could not afford to send him to prestigious schools in the Philippines, but he was able to have an education for the privileged because he was granted full academic scholarships and graduated with honors.

CALINISAN WOULD HAVE HAD A LUCRATIVE CAREER IN THE CORPORATE WORLD IN THE UNITED STATES AS A CPA LAWYER, BUT HE CHOSE TO GO BACK TO THE PHILIPPINES AND STARTED HIS PUBLIC SERVICE JOURNEY IN ORGANIZATIONS AIMED AT PROFESSIONALIZING AND CLEANSING THE RANKS OF THE INSTITUTION HE ONCE DREAMED OF BECOMING PART OF.

There was a candid moment during the interview with LEAGUE Magazine where Calinisan shed tears when asked why he gave up a lucrative career for a difficult and challenging path in public service. His exposure to the lives of his classmates who came from affluent backgrounds made him see the socioeconomic disparity among Filipinos. But he never had any resentments, and being grateful for whatever he had made him see his purpose. “While my classmates wore the latest Nike Air Jordans, I wore Mighty Kid shoes. I saw the difference—but I never felt envy. I understood life wasn’t the same for everyone, and that realization shaped me,” he shares. Growing up with both parents as police officers, he witnessed the struggles and challenges faced by policemen. "I was aware of it even as a child. I was not blind to their reality. That awareness shaped me," Calinisan recalls. He traces his passion for public service back to his upbringing. "I feel it's my responsibility to do something— to help, even if it’s just in small ways. We often associate wealth with material possessions, but I believe that true wealth lies in the good deeds you've done for others."

 I WAS AWARE OF THE STRUGGLES AND CHALLENGES FACED BY POLICEMEN EVEN AS A CHILD. I WAS NOT BLIND TO THEIR REALITY. THAT AWARENESS SHAPED ME.

GROUNDED LEADERSHIP Calinisan's first public service job was at Malacañang from 2010 to 2016 as assistant secretary in the Office of the President. The road to working for the organization he once dreamed of joining started when he worked at the People’s Law Enforcement Board (PLEB) in Quezon City as chairman and executive officer. PLEB is an office that investigates police misconduct. He received a measly Php12,000 monthly salary at PLEB QC, but it was his dedication that kept him motivated. When he took over, the office had a case backlog from way back over a decade. He was able to resolve these cases in 60 days. “Justice must be swift—not just for the complainant, but for the respondent. The public deserves answers, and the police deserve clarity,” he says. “If you are abusive, you should be removed. But if you're innocent, your name should be cleared as quickly as possible.”

His exemplary four-year service at PLEB QC earned Calinisan a post as commissioner of NAPOLCOM in 2024. Within a few months, he was appointed vice chairperson and executive officer in 2025. “I never planned this. It was never part of my career map,” he admits. “But destiny brought me here [NAPOLCOM], and I intend to make every moment count.”

From day one, Calinisan made it clear that NAPOLCOM isn’t just a government agency tucked away in Metro Manila. It exists to serve every Filipino, no matter how distant. That is why, in his very first week in office, he boarded a plane to Tawi-Tawi, the southernmost province of the country. He didn’t just meet with local officials; he shook hands with ordinary police officers, listened to their stories, and sat down with residents in far-flung communities. For Calinisan, it was not just about raising awareness of NAPOLCOM’s mandate. “I did not go to places for sightseeing, but to let them know that the Commissioner is reachable, and NAPOLCOM is listening,” he explains. He was the f irst NAPOLCOM commissioner to visit Tawi-Tawi.

Public service for Calinisan is not about staying in the office or relying on titles—it is about establishing a sincere relationship. He has a striking impression that many government officials are distant and detached from the people they are meant to serve. He wants to steer away from that kind of leadership. For him, meaningful leadership starts with open communication. “If you don’t know or speak to the people you govern, then you have a serious problem,” he adds. This is the very reason why, even in remote areas, Calinisan never misses the opportunity to personally engage with people on the ground. He even gives out his personal number to rank-and-file police officers and staff and would personally reply to messages even late at night. “Sometimes the best ideas, the most urgent concerns, or the most honest feedback come from the ground,” he explains. “When people can reach out without layers or protocol, you build trust—and you get the truth. If the people who protect and serve us feel voiceless, then we have failed. So I will listen—and I will act.”

JUSTICE WITHIN REACH

Calinisan wants to continue his track record of swift resolution of case backlog from PLEB to NAPOLCOM because there are thousands of cases pending for over a decade awaiting him. He says that a day before the interview with LEAGUE Magazine, they were able to resolve a 22-year old case. “Imagine that. How could anyone still believe in NAPOLCOM if it takes two decades to render justice?” stresses Calinisan, adding that the issue is not about backlog but a disregard of public trust. “I felt really bad—insulted even—as an ordinary citizen. So right after seeing and resolving that case, I immediately  instructed the lawyer to write to me and identify who the handling lawyers were. I needed to take proper action. They had to explain why it took that long to resolve such a simple case.” Calinisan is determined to restore people’s confidence in NAPOLCOM; that’s why he issued a bold marching order to have zero case backlog by December 2025 and committed to resolving new complaints within 60 days.

The commission also unanimously dismissed a controversial police vlogger attacking public officials. NAPOLCOM did not wait anymore for a formal complaint but instead conducted a motu proprio investigation. They made him speak his side as an exercise of his right to be heard but later on decided to dismiss him. “That’s what swift justice looks like,” he explains.

However, justice must not only be served, according to Calinisan, but also be seen by the common people. “To the ordinary Filipino, what matters is that when there’s a problem, they know there’s someone they can turn to, and that their complaint won’t fall on deaf ears,” he explains.

FOR CALINISAN, TRUE LEADERSHIP IS SINCERELY CONNECTING TO THE PEOPLE ON THE GROUND—ENGAGING DIRECTLY WITHOUT BARRIERS AND RESPONDING PERSONALLY, BECAUSE HE BELIEVES THAT EFFECTIVE GOVERNANCE IS FOUNDED ON TRUST, TRUTH, AND OPEN COMMUNICATION.

Calinisan, however, explains that NAPOLCOM is not an enemy of the police. There are many police officers who are doing their jobs right and yet are publicly scrutinized. “Araw araw, naaawa ako sa mga pulis. Napakahirap ng trabaho nila. Ang ibang tao, madaling magpapogi sa publiko. Uupakan lang nila ang pulis (Every day, I feel sorry for the police. Their job is extremely difficult. It's easy for other people to look good in public. They just have to go after the police)—but that’s not the way forward," he says.

Reflecting on the challenge of selecting police officers, Calinisan notes that some recruits lack mental and emotional fitness. "Hindi biro ang bigyan ng baril at uniporme ang isang tao (It is not simple to give someone a gun and a uniform)," he says. "We have a responsibility to make sure the person who holds that kind of power is fit—mentally, physically, and morally." NAPOLCOM is now scrutinizing the recruitment process and Calinisan has highlighted the need for a review of the PNPA curriculum and the training of non-commissioned recruits. He is also focusing on professionalizing the police force by recruiting a pool of professors to enhance the quality of police education. The initiative is not limited to new recruits, as many existing members of the police force, according to him, do not even know the basic Miranda Rights or the rules regarding warrantless arrests. NAPOLCOM is forging partnerships with the PNP and the Integrated Bar of the Philippines to educate them on such. “You can’t lead or protect the people if you don’t understand the law,” he stresses. Calinisan describes his work as a part of his personal advocacy and a chance to make a difference. “Ipinanganak na ang kakampi niyo sa National Police Commission (Your ally in the National Police Commission has been born),” he tells policemen. “I’m here to look after your morale and welfare.” To the Filipino public, Calinisan says: “I’m just like you—an ordinary citizen. I didn’t come here with perks or privileges. I just want change. And I know you do, too.”

TO THE ORDINARY FILIPINO, WHAT MATTERS IS THAT WHEN THERE’S A PROBLEM, THEY KNOW THERE’S SOMEONE THEY CAN TURN TO, AND THAT THEIR COMPLAINT WON’T FALL ON DEAF EARS.