By Cris Diaz
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY: Former Philippine National Police Chief Benjamin Acorda Jr., is the new Executive Director of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC), Malacañang said.
Acorda replaced PAOCC Executive Director Undersecretary Gilbert Cruz,
President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. appointed Acorda as PAOCC Chief on Oct. 15, 2025. Acorda served as PNP Chief from April 2023 to March 2024.
A member of the Philippine Military Academy “Sambisig” Class of 1991, Acorda served as director of the PNP Directorate for Intelligence before Marcos was appointed him PNP chief in 2023.
Acorda also served as regional police director of Region 10 in Nov 2021 prior to his assignmnet as Director of the PNP Directoratw for Intelligence.
Cruz, a former Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) chief, was appointed as PAOCC Undersecretary in January 2023.
Created under Executive Order No. 295 in 2000, the PAOCC was tasked to adopt measures to ensure an effective and efficient anti-crime drive and to identify and prosecute criminal groups and their protectors in government through efficient intelligence and counterintelligence efforts.
In line with President Marcos’ directive for a nationwide ban, the PAOCC under Cruz led the crackdown on Philippine offshore gambling operations (POGO) due to the spate of human trafficking and other criminal activities.(with reports from PND)
