Benjamin "Benjie" Casuga Acorda Jr. (born December 4, 1967) is a retired Filipino police officer who served as the Chief of the Philippine National Police from April 24, 2023 until his extended forced retirement on March 31, 2024.

Benjamin Acorda
Acorda as a Major General
Chief of the Philippine National Police
In office
April 24, 2023 – March 31, 2024
PresidentBongbong Marcos
Preceded byPGen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr.
Succeeded byPLtGen. Emmanuel B. Peralta (OIC)
PGen. Rommel Francisco D. Marbil
Personal details
Born
Benjamin Casuga Acorda

(1967-12-03) December 3, 1967 (age 56)
Alma materPhilippine Military Academy
Philippine Christian University (M. A.)
Police career
ServicePhilippine National Police
Divisions
    • Directorate for Intelligence
    • Civil Security Group
    • Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group
    • Anti-Cybercrime Group
Police offices
Service years1991–2024
Rank Police General
Badge no.0-07002

Career

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Acorda oversaw the Pangasinan municipal police stations in Sual, Sison, Bolinao, and Balungao, which are all in the Ilocos area. Later, he was assigned to the provincial police of Palawan, where he worked from 2014 to 2016.[1]

Acorda led the Palawan Police Provincial Office to be the most efficient police force in the MIMAROPA region. He also led the CIDG's CAMANAVA Criminal Investigation and Detection Team.[1] He also led the CIDG's Anti-Fraud and Commercial Crimes Division and its MIMAROPA unit. He was also the Deputy Chief of Operations for CIDG in 2010.[1]

In 2008, Acorda went back to his native area where he worked as an intel officer, and later as assistant director for operations of the Ilocos Norte provincial police, and later, director of its Operations and Plans' Branch. In addition, he served as the chief of the police intelligence division for the Ilocos Region's production department and the police intelligence branch for Ilocos Norte.[1]

He was assigned to the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO), and led such positions like deputy director for operations, deputy director for administration and its regional intelligence division.[1]

Additionally, he worked for the Mindanao police in a variety of roles. He was employed by Muslim Mindanao's Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Basilan as an intelligence and operations officer. Later on, Acorda held the position of regional police director for Northern Mindanao.[1]

Acorda led the PNP Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group and the Civil Security Group before joining the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group as one of its founding members. Before being named the country's top law enforcement official, he was in charge of the PNP's Directorate for Intelligence.[2]

Acorda has held directorial positions in UN missions and overseen law enforcement officers from foreign countries, and he is also a former member of the United Nations Blue Helmets.[1]

Additionally, he has been awarded the Bronze Cross Model, a distinguished title bestowed upon police enforcement personnel [1]

He was appointed as the Chief of the Philippine National Police on April 24, 2023, term as chief was extended until March 31, 2024.[2][3][4]

Personal life

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Benjamin Sr., a lawyer from La Union who worked as an enlisted Air Force member and as counsel for the La Union's Citizen's Legal Assistance Office (now called the Public Attorney's Office).[1]

Purificacion Casuga-Acorda, Acorda's mother, was employed in La Union as a government nurse.[1]

Acorda attended the Philippine Christian University where he studied for his master's degree in management.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Bolledo, Jairo (April 26, 2023). "Meet Ilocano general Benjamin Acorda Jr., Marcos' 2nd PNP chief". RAPPLER. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  2. ^ a b Bolledo, Jairo (December 4, 2023). "Marcos extends PNP chief Acorda's term". RAPPLER. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  3. ^ Tupas, Emmanuel. "7 possible contenders seen for next PNP chief". Philstar.com. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  4. ^ "Acorda's term as PNP chief gets extended until March 2024". Philstar.com. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
Police appointments
Preceded by Chief of the Philippine National Police
April 24, 2023 to March 31, 2024
Succeeded by