Former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Benjamin Acorda Jr. has formally assumed office as chairperson of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC), replacing Gilbert Cruz, who led the agency since 2022.
Acorda took his oath of office on Thursday, October 16, according to the Presidential Communications Office (PCO).
Leadership transition. Cruz’s tenure at the PAOCC was marked by a series of major operations against illegal scam and gaming syndicates. The agency spearheaded the nationwide crackdown on Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), which led to the outlawing of illegal POGO hubs and the deportation of undocumented foreign workers.
The PAOCC also played a role in the arrest and detention of former Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo, who has been linked to POGO-related activities.
In June 2024, the commission began a campaign against illegal online lending apps, responding to more than 13,000 public complaints about predatory lending practices.
Anti-crime mandate. Created in 2000, the PAOCC leads the government’s efforts to identify and prosecute organized crime groups and public officials who protect them.
The commission also coordinates with law enforcement and intelligence agencies to dismantle syndicates involved in trafficking, fraud, and cybercrime.
Who is Acorda? Acorda, a member of the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1991, served as PNP chief from April 2023 to April 2024. Before his appointment, he was PNP Director for Intelligence and previously headed the Police Regional Office 10 in Northern Mindanao.
He is considered a pioneer of the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group and has also led the Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group, which investigates police misconduct.