Manila, Philippines – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. officially appointed former Philippine National Police Chief Benjamin Acorda as the new executive director of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC).
On Thursday, Acorda formally took his oath before the President in acceptance of the new responsibility, replacing former PAOCC Executive Director Undersecretary Gilbert Cruz.
Acorda was a graduate of the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1991, at was appointed as the 29th PNP Chief from April 2023 to April 2024.
Before this, he was also the PNP Director of Intelligence from August 2022 to April 2023, and was the Regional Director of the Police Regional Office X Northern Mindanao from November 2021 to August 2022.
He was also a significant part of the police force being a pioneer of PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group, Deputy Regional Director ng NCRPO, Director of the Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group, Chief of Staff of the Civil Security Group, and Chief of the Anti-Fraud and Commercial Crimes Division.
Given the new position, Acorda is expected to continue PAOCC’s path and direction mandated in investigation and prosecution of criminals and members of the syndicate.
Among PAOCC’s duties are intelligence operations and crafting of anti-crime action plans.It can be recalled that PAOCC led the government’s crackdown against Philippine Offshore Gambling Operations (POGO) in the country.-Mia Layaguin, Eurotv News