A GENTLEMAN from the North is how Philippine National Police Director for Intelligence, Major General Benjamin C. Acorda Jr. is described by his peers and subordinates who consider him as the real ‘Dark Horse’ in the race for the next PNP chief.

A member of Philippine Military Academy (PMA) ‘Sambisig’ Class of 1991 just like The PNP Chief of Directorial Staff, Lieutenant Gen. Michael John F. Dubria, Maj. Gen. Acorda is regarded by many as a ‘Humble Servant’ whose family has produced a long line of outstanding public officials of Ilocos Norte, the home province of the Marcoses led by President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ R. Marcos Jr.

His maternal grandfather, Captain Felipe Casuga of La Union was a soldier who got the Distinguished Service Cross after losing his life while fighting Japanese invaders in 1944.

Maj. Gen. Acorda’s father and namesake, Attorney Benjamin Acorda Sr. was an Air Force Enlisted Personnel who rose to become a distinct lawyer at the Citizen’s Legal Assistance Office, now known a the Public Attorney’s Office in La Union.

His mother Purificacion Casuga Acorda is a distinguished government nurse in the province.

Maj. Gen. Acorda fondly recalls that it was his parents who instilled in him the virtues of patriotism and genuine public service at a very young age.

The official finished elementary at the Gabaldon Elementary School’s Special Education Center in Laoag City before going to the Bacarra National Comprehensive High School where he met his first love and future wife Oliva Balasi Afaga. The two have four wonderful children.

A highly-decorated police officer, Maj. Gen. Acorda earned his Master’s Degree in Management from the Philippine Christian University. He is a recipient of the Bronze Cross Medal, a prestigious single grade military decoration of the Armed Forces of the Philippines which is awarded for ‘heroism involving risk of life.’

Maj. Gen. Acorda consistently invested in learning and growing to further hone his skills as a public servant. Among his specialized trainings include a Police Intelligence Officer Advance Course, a Logistics Management Course and Training Course on Drug Law Enforcement for the Philippines.

As a Commander, he headed the Balungao, Sison, Bolinao and Sual Municipal Police Stations in Pangasinan and later, the Palawan Police Provincial Office from 2014 to 2016. As Palawan police chief, he turned the local police force to No. 1 in operational accomplishments from being No. 5 in the entire Mimaropa region.

He also delivered sincere and dedicated service as the Regional Director of the Police Regional Office 10 in Northern Mindanao which earned a high public trust rating and kept crime at a minimal level during his stint as RD.

As an Investigator, he was once chief of the Camanava Criminal Investigation and Detection Team of the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group; was a former CIDG Region 4-B chief; and headed the CIDG Anti-Fraud and Commercial Crimes Division which solved a number of major crimes in Metro Manila and other parts of the country.

Maj. Gen. Acorda also used to be Chief of the Operations and Plans’ Branch, Intelligence Officer and Assistant Provincial Director for Operations of the Ilocos Norte Police Provincial Office in 2008 and CIDG Deputy Chief of Operations in 2010. He also was once Deputy Director for Operations and later Deputy Director for Administration of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO).

The official was also former chief of staff of the PNP Civil Security Group and briefly commanded the PNP Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group created to go after rogues in police uniform.

Maj. Gen. Acorda was also one of the officials who pioneered the creation of the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group. As an officer of the unit, he was among those recognized by China and Taiwan for launching a major anti-cybercrime operation in the country which led to the arrest of hundreds of Chinese and Taiwanese nationals involved in cyber-crimes.

The official is a proud member of the United Nations Blue Helmets or police officers who have been deployed twice as members of the Philippine contingent in the UN peacekeeping operations in Haiti. He occupied a directorial position in the UN mission and supervised law enforcement officers from foreign countries like Jordan, China, Canada, Russia, Columbia, Nepal, Ghana and the United States.

Maj. Gen. Acorda also used to be an intelligence and operations officer in three mobile force companies in Basilan; was once chief of the Production Branch of the PRO1 Regional Intelligence Division; chief of the Ilocos Norte Provincial Police Intelligence Branch; chief of the PRO4-B and later the NCRPO Regional Intelligence Divisions; and chief of the Counter-Intelligence and Security Division of the PNP-DI.

A veteran operations and intelligence officer, Acorda earned his 1st-star as Executive Officer of the PNP-DI.

As PRO10 director, he led all police operations to ensure peaceful and orderly May 2023 election in Northern Mindanao despite many challenges. While PRO10 director, he led his men in arresting 2,049 wanted persons while accounting for 79 New People’s Army members in the region apart from neutralizing 17 others during police offensive operations.

As Northern Mindanao police director, he dismissed 149 erring police personnel while leading various anti-drugs and anti-criminality operations which resulted in the seizure of nearly P35 million worth of shabu and dried marijuana leaves and more than 500 illegal weapons.

He has proven his being a well-rounded officer in his many previous assignments. He was chief of the Sual Municipal Police Station when the U.S.$2.2-billion dollar Sual Coal-Fired Power Plant was built during the Fidel Ramos presidency.

Since becoming the PNP Director for Intelligence in August last year, the official has supervised operations which led to the neutralization of 28 high-ranking NPA officials nationwide. No police official was also harassed or overrun by the rebels during the period as a result of intelligence reports forwarded by the PNP-DI to all concerned units which were all properly acted upon.

Maj. Gen. Acorda has gained a comprehensive overview of the importance of national security and territorial integrity as a result of his previous assignments. Also a trained strategist, he is known for delivering his mandated tasks with proficiency and precision.

A God-fearing man who lives and inspire others by example, Acorda believes integrity, humility and accountability are the most important attributes of a leader and a good public servant.

He has also fully committed to serve the present administration with utmost sincerity and dedication to give the best service to the Filipino people.

The name of Maj. Gen. Acorda has cropped up as among the top candidates to succeed Gen. Azurin owing to his solid credentials as well as his being from the Solid North.

Journal Group sources said that the President’s trust and confidence will always play a major role in his decision plus the recommendation from his most trusted lieutenants and security officers including Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Benjamin ‘Benhur’ C. Abalos Jr.

Major Gen. Acorda however will be retiring from the force this coming December 3, giving him less than eight months to lead the organization in case he gets the nod of the President.