The chief of the Philippine National Police (abbreviated as C, PNP; Filipino: ) is the head of the Philippines' national police body, the Philippine National Police (PNP). The position is invariably held by a police general, a four-star general police officer.
The chief of the Philippine National Police or PNP chief is also an ex officio member of the National Police Commission.
Eligibility The Department of the Interior and Local Government Act of 1990 (Republic Act No. 6975), the law establishing the Philippine National Police, states that the President shall appoint the Philippine National Police Chief from among a list prepared by the National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) of "the most senior and qualified officers in the service" given that the prospect appointee has not yet retired or within six months from their compulsory retirement age. The lowest rank of a qualified appointee shall be the rank of Police Brigadier General. The appointment of the PNP chief by the President does not require confirmation from the Commission on Appointments.
Powers and functions The holder of the position of PNP Chief holds the rank of "Police General". Prior to February 2019, this rank was known as "Director General", According to Sec. 26 of RA 6975 the PNP Chief shall have:
Powers, Functions and term of Office of the PNP Chief
Command and direction of the PNP; the power to direct and control tactical as well as strategic movements, deployment, placement, utilization of the PNP or any of its units and personnel, including its equipment, facilities and other resources. Such command and direction of the Chief of the PNP may be delegated to subordinate officials with the respect to the units under their respective commands, in accordance with the rules and regulation prescribed by the commission. Power to issue detailed implementing policies and instructions regarding personnel, funds, properties, records, correspondence and such other matters as may be necessary to effective carry out the functions, powers and duties of the agency. Issue disciplinary protocols on all member in matters. He may suspend, remove, and forfeit one's salary if found guilty of criminal, civil, and administrative case. The suspension, salary forfeiture and other actions may only be implemented against that member for not more than 180 days.
Tenure Under Republic Act No. 6975, the term of office of PNP Chief cannot exceed four years but he needs to retire immediately if he reaches the age of 56. An exception can be made by the President to extend the PNP chief's term "in times of war or other national emergency declared by Congress"
Command Group The PNP Chief is assisted by the Command Group. The current Deputy Chief for Administration is PLtGen. Bernard M. Banac, the current Deputy Chief for Operations is PLtGen. Wilson Joseph Lopez, and the Chief for Directorial Staff is PLtGen. Neri Vincent D. Ignacio.
List The following lists people who have assumed the position of Chief of the Philippine National Police. This includes people who served as Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of the PNP. This excludes OIC tenure due to temporary incapacitation of filing of a leave of absence of the incumbent – who would later resume fulfilling their duties.
No. Rank Image Name Term 1st Police Director General Cesar P. Nazareno March 31, 1991 – August 28, 1992 2nd Police Director General Raul S. Imperial August 28, 1992 – May 6, 1993 3rd Police Director General Umberto A. Rodriguez May 6, 1993 – July 8, 1994 4th Police Director General Recaredo A. Sarmiento II July 8, 1994 – December 15, 1997 5th Police Director General Santiago Aliño December 15, 1997 – July 10, 1998 6th Police Deputy Director General Roberto Lastimoso July 11, 1998 – June 15, 1999 7th Police Deputy Director General Edmundo Larroza June 16 – November 16, 1999 8th Police Director General Panfilo "Ping" M. Lacson November 16, 1999 – January 21, 2001 Police Deputy Director General Leandro Mendoza January 22, 2001 – March 16, 2001 9th Police Director GeneralMarch 16, 2001 – March 17, 2002 10th Police Director General Hermogenes E. Ebdane Jr. March 17, 2002 – August 23, 2004 11th Police Director General Edgar Aglipay August 23, 2004 – March 14, 2005 12th Police Director General Arturo Lomibao March 14, 2005 – July 5, 2006 13th Police Director General Oscar C. Calderon July 5, 2006 – October 1, 2007 14th Police Director General Avelino I. Razon Jr. October 1, 2007 – September 27, 2008 15th Police Director General Jesus Ame Versoza September 27, 2008 – September 14, 2010 16th Police Director General Atty. Raul M. Bacalzo, Ph.D. September 14, 2010 – September 9, 2011 17th Police Director General Nicanor A. Bartolome September 9, 2011 – December 17, 2012 18th Police Director General Alan LM Purisima December 17, 2012 – February 5, 2015 19th Police Deputy Director General Leonardo A. Espina ( / Acting) February 5 – July 16, 2015 20th Police Director General Ricardo C. Marquez July 16, 2015 – June 30, 2016 21st Police Director General Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa July 1, 2016 – April 19, 2018 22nd Police General Oscar David Albayalde April 19, 2018 – October 14, 2019 Police Lieutenant GeneralAtty. Archie Francisco F. Gamboa October 14, 2019 – January 20, 2020 () 23rd Police General January 20 – September 2, 2020 24th Police General Camilo Pancratius P. Cascolan September 2 – November 10, 2020 25th Police General Debold M. Sinas November 10, 2020 – May 8, 2021 26th Police General Guillermo Lorenzo T. Eleazar May 8 – November 13, 2021 27th Police General Dionardo B. Carlos November 13, 2021 – May 8, 2022 Police Lieutenant General Vicente D. Danao Jr. () May 8 – August 1, 2022 28th Police General Rodolfo S. Azurin Jr. August 1, 2022 – April 24, 2023 29th Police General Benjamin C. Acorda Jr. April 24, 2023 – March 31, 2024 Police Lieutenant General Emmanuel B. Peralta () March 31 – April 1, 2024 30th Police General Rommel Francisco Marbil April 1, 2024 – June 2, 202531st Police GeneralNicolas D. Torre IIIJune 2, 2025 – August 25, 2025Police Lieutenant General Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr.August 26, 2025 - September 1, 2025 ()September 1, 2025 - January 28, 2026 (Acting)32ndPolice General January 28, 2026 - Present
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