The Servants of the Nation: The Enduring Legacy of PNPA Tagapaglingkod Class 1987

*Dr. Rodolfo John Ortiz Teope, PhD, EdD, DM

There is an old saying from France that quietly captures the essence of public service: “To serve is to live twice.” It suggests that a life devoted to serving others is a life that resonates beyond one’s own existence. A person lives once for himself, but lives again through the institutions he helps build, the people he mentors, and the principles he leaves behind.

Whenever I reflect on my journey in the world of public safety, governance, and education, this proverb gently reminds me that the most meaningful chapters of our lives are written not in comfort, but in service.

One such chapter in my life unfolded on July 13, 2002, when I was formally adopted as an Honorary Member of the Philippine National Police Academy Tagapaglingkod Class of 1987. It was a moment that I will always carry with humility and gratitude.

On that day, I had the privilege of taking my oath alongside distinguished personalities such as then DILG Head Executive Assistant and Undersecretary Allan Yap, Undersecretary Marilou Frostrum, former Appointment Secretary to President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Senator Loren Legarda, Prosecutor General Ben Malcontento and other respected individuals who were likewise accorded the honor of being adopted by this prestigious class. In the years that followed, the class would also extend the same distinction to Vice President Jejomar Binay.

Yet the significance of that moment for me went far beyond the presence of prominent personalities. The deeper meaning lay in the identity and legacy of the class that welcomed us.

The Philippine National Police Academy Tagapaglingkod Class of 1987 stands as one of the enduring pillars of leadership within the Philippine interior and local government services. Their class name itself carries a profound message. Tagapaglingkod means “The Servants.” It is a name that reflects a philosophy, a commitment, and a way of life.

These men and women entered the service during a transformative period in Philippine history. The nation was navigating the transition from the old structures of the Philippine Constabulary and Integrated National Police toward the establishment of modern civilian public safety institutions. From this transformation would emerge the Philippine National Police, the Bureau of Fire Protection, and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology.

Members of the Tagapaglingkod Class of 1987 became part of the generation that helped shape this institutional transformation.

They were molded in an environment of rigorous academic training, tactical discipline, and moral formation. But beyond their technical preparation, they were shaped to understand that leadership in public safety is ultimately a commitment to service.

Over the decades, many members of this class rose through the ranks and became key architects of reform within the country’s public safety institutions. They helped institutionalize modern doctrines in policing, fire protection, and jail management. They contributed to the development of frameworks that emphasized community partnership, professional accountability, and ethical leadership.

In this evolving philosophy of public safety, the officer is not merely an enforcer of the law. The officer is a servant of the people.

Few classes embody that principle more authentically than the Tagapaglingkod Class of 1987.

Their service has also been tested by time. Over the years, members of this class have stood at the forefront of national security challenges, disaster response operations, internal defense initiatives, and complex law enforcement missions. In many ways, they became the bridge between national government policies and the communities that rely on them for safety and protection.

What makes this class even more remarkable is its tradition of adopting honorary members. Within the culture of the Philippine National Police Academy, honorary membership is not a mere ceremonial title. It is a recognition of shared values and shared purpose.

Those adopted into the class often come from diverse backgrounds. Some are academics and strategic thinkers who contribute intellectual guidance to the development of public safety institutions. Others are civilian leaders whose work reflects the same service-first ethos embodied by the class. Still others serve as advisors and mentors who bridge the gap between technical law enforcement operations and broader societal reforms.

Through this integration of honorary members, the Tagapaglingkod Class of 1987 created a unique synergy. The officers bring discipline, operational experience, and leadership forged through decades in the field. Their adopted members contribute multidisciplinary perspectives that help address complex national challenges such as corruption, governance reform, electoral integrity, and community security.

Together, they represent a unified front of servants committed to the stability and prosperity of the nation.

For my part, my relationship with many members of this class began long before my formal adoption in 2002.

Many of them were once my students at the National Police College during the Directorial Staff Course, a prestigious leadership program equivalent to the General Staff Course of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Within that program, I had the privilege of teaching a three hundred sixty hour subject on Public Safety Doctrine Development.

At that time, I was still in my late twenties. Many of the officers sitting in that classroom were already seasoned professionals holding the ranks of Major and Colonel. Standing before such experienced officers as a young instructor was both a challenge and a responsibility that I carried with deep respect.

Yet those moments remain among the most fulfilling experiences of my professional life.

It was during those sessions that I introduced and authored a framework known as the SET Approach, or Scanning the Environment Tool, a methodology designed to guide officers in analyzing the complex environments in which public safety institutions operate before crafting doctrines and policies.

Through this method, officers are trained to examine political, social, economic, technological, and security dynamics that influence the success of law enforcement strategies. Doctrine is not simply a collection of rules. It is a living framework that must adapt to the realities of the environment it seeks to govern.

What made those classroom engagements particularly meaningful was the caliber of officers participating in them.

Many of the officers from the Tagapaglingkod Class of 1987 were competing and excelling alongside some of the best minds in the public safety sector. They stood shoulder to shoulder with graduates of the Philippine Military Academy as well as outstanding lateral entry officers who had distinguished themselves in their respective fields.

Despite the diversity of backgrounds, the officers of Class 1987 consistently demonstrated discipline, intellectual curiosity, and humility in learning. They embraced doctrine development not merely as an academic exercise but as a practical tool for strengthening institutions.

Some members of this class were also my classmates during specialized training courses conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in the United States. Those experiences allowed us to engage with international law enforcement frameworks and compare best practices in leadership, intelligence, and operational coordination.

In those classrooms abroad, we were not merely participants in a training program. We were Filipinos learning together, exchanging perspectives, and carrying with us the shared responsibility of bringing home knowledge that could strengthen the institutions we served.

Years later, when many of them had already assumed senior leadership roles within the Philippine National Police, the Bureau of Fire Protection, and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, I felt a quiet sense of fulfillment knowing that the doctrines we once discussed in the classroom had become part of the institutional thinking guiding their decisions.

PNPA Alumni Homecoming 2005

Perhaps one of the most humbling moments came during the PNPA Alumni Homecoming in March 13, 2005, when members of the Tagapaglingkod Class of 1987 nominated me for recognition for my contributions in public safety doctrine development and policy formulation in law enforcement. During that occasion, I was awarded a Plaque of Appreciation, a gesture that I accepted with deep gratitude.

For me, that recognition was never about personal prestige. It symbolized the enduring relationship between teacher and student, between mentor and practitioner, and between individuals who share the same commitment to strengthening our nation’s public safety institutions.

Today, as we stand in the year 2026, I continue to serve as an active honorary member of the Tagapaglingkod Class of 1987. Time has moved forward, and many of the members of this class have already completed their distinguished careers in uniform.

PNPA Alumni Homecoming 2026

Most of them have retired after reaching the ranks of generals and colonels, leaving behind decades of dedicated service in the Philippine National Police, the Bureau of Fire Protection, and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology.

Yet retirement for them does not mean the end of service.

Many of these distinguished officers continue to contribute to national development by occupying vital positions in government institutions, advisory roles, and even elected public offices. Their experience, wisdom, and commitment remain valuable assets to the country they have served for so many years.

When I look at the Tagapaglingkod Class of 1987 today, I do not simply see a PNPA class from the past. I see a generation of leaders who helped shape the evolution of modern Philippine public safety institutions.

They are officers and gentlemen who have spent decades safeguarding communities, responding to crises, and strengthening the rule of law.

They are, in the truest sense of their name, Tagapaglingkod—servants of the Filipino people.

And for someone like me who was welcomed into their fold, the honor remains deeply humbling.

Because in the quiet wisdom of that old French proverb, a life devoted to service truly allows us to live twice—once through our own actions, and once through the institutions and people we have helped guide in their mission to serve the nation.

The PNPA Tagapaglingkod Class 1987, Elected Officers for 2026-2027

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*About the author:

Dr. Rodolfo “John” Ortiz Teope is a distinguished Filipino academic, public intellectual, and advocate for civic education and public safety, whose work spans local academies and international security circles. With a career rooted in teaching, research, policy, and public engagement, he bridges theory and practice by making meaningful contributions to academic discourse, civic education, and public policy. Dr. Teope is widely respected for his critical scholarship in education, management, economics, doctrine development, and public safety; his grassroots involvement in government and non-government organizations; his influential media presence promoting democratic values and civic consciousness; and his ethical leadership grounded in Filipino nationalism and public service. As a true public intellectual, he exemplifies how research, advocacy, governance, and education can work together in pursuit of the nation’s moral and civic mission.

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The Unfinished Appointment: Why Benhur Abalos May Yet Become the Executive Secretary the Marcos Administration Needs

*Dr. Rodolfo John Ortiz Teope, PhD, EdD, DM

In politics, expectations often take shape inside the corridors of power long before they are formally announced to the public. I remember hearing conversations shortly after the 2022 presidential elections when Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. secured his decisive victory. Among political observers and insiders alike, there was a prevailing belief about who would occupy one of the most powerful posts in the government. The name that frequently surfaced was Benhur Abalos, the trusted campaign manager who helped orchestrate the electoral machinery that brought Marcos back to Malacañang. In many political traditions, the strategist who successfully steers a presidential campaign is often entrusted with a central role in the administration. Yet as events unfolded, the direction of the appointment took a different path.

Instead of Abalos, the position of Executive Secretary was initially given to the President’s lawyer, Atty. Vic Rodriguez. Reports and political whispers at the time suggested that there were internal movements within the President’s circle that paved the way for Rodriguez to assume the role. One of the early institutional decisions during his tenure was the abolition of the Cabinet Secretary position. Shortly thereafter, one of the first executive actions of the administration involved the abolition of the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission. These early moves reflected the shifting dynamics within the emerging structure of the new administration.

However, the tenure of Atty. Vic Rodriguez proved to be brief. His stay in office lasted only about three months, roughly within the first hundred days of the Marcos administration. During that short period, various intrigues, controversies, and allegations surrounded his office. While many of these accusations remain unproven to this day, the political tension and administrative instability they created eventually led to his resignation. His departure was not an isolated development. Several figures connected with the early configuration of the administration also left their posts, including officials within the Presidential Management Staff and the Presidential Communications Office. As a result, the first hundred days of the administration experienced a somewhat turbulent, complicated, and uncertain governance launch or beginning.

Following Rodriguez’s resignation, former Chief Justice Lucas Bersamin was appointed as Executive Secretary. Bersamin brought with him decades of experience in the judiciary and was widely regarded as a stabilizing presence within the executive branch. From 2022 to 2025, he served as the President’s principal administrative coordinator and legal adviser, helping guide the bureaucratic machinery of government during a period of adjustment.

Yet even the tenure of Bersamin was not entirely free from controversy. As is often the case with high-ranking officials in Philippine governance, the office eventually became entangled in public issues and political scrutiny. One of the controversies that surfaced during this period involved the alleged mention of his nephew, Adrian Bersamin, in connection with what public discourse described as a flood control scam that attracted national attention. Whether proven or not, controversies of such magnitude inevitably cast political shadows over offices associated with them. In the sensitive environment of national governance, even indirect associations can create pressures that affect the stability of leadership.

Amid the growing public attention and political concerns surrounding these issues, Bersamin eventually stepped down from his post. His resignation once again opened a transition within the Office of the Executive Secretary, one of the most critical coordinating institutions within the executive branch.

Following this development, the role of Executive Secretary began to be handled in an acting capacity by Ralph Recto. Recto is widely known for his long career in economic governance, fiscal management, and national budgeting. His experience in public service has consistently revolved around financial policy, taxation, and economic planning. His presence in Malacañang ensured continuity in the administrative coordination of the government during a period of transition.

Yet Recto’s strengths have always been closely associated with economic management and fiscal policy. His expertise in financial governance is widely recognized, and many observers believe that such strengths may be better utilized in the areas of budgeting, economic planning, and fiscal administration—fields that remain crucial as the Philippines navigates economic uncertainties and development challenges.

These developments inevitably revive an old question that had lingered quietly since the early days of the Marcos administration. What if the original expectation had been realized from the beginning?

Benhur Abalos, the man many believed would initially become Executive Secretary, instead served as Secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government. In that role, he demonstrated a pragmatic and energetic leadership style, strengthening coordination with local government units and promoting initiatives aimed at improving governance and public service delivery. His leadership within the DILG highlighted his administrative experience and his ability to translate policy directives into operational programs.

However, his tenure was interrupted when he decided to run in the 2025 elections. That political decision temporarily removed him from the executive branch and left several initiatives within the DILG unfinished. Now that the elections have passed and Abalos is no longer constrained by electoral commitments, the possibility of his return to a key executive role becomes a realistic consideration.

Abalos brings with him a rare combination of experiences in Philippine governance. He has served as Mayor of Mandaluyong, Congressman, Chairman of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, and Secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government. These positions collectively represent both local administrative leadership and national government experience. Few public officials possess such a comprehensive perspective of governance from both the grassroots and national levels.

The position of Executive Secretary is often described as that of the “Little President,” the official responsible for ensuring that the vast machinery of government moves in coordination with the directives of the Chief Executive. The role requires not only legal knowledge but also political sensitivity, administrative discipline, and the practical understanding of how government programs are implemented on the ground.

In governance, effectiveness often depends on placing leaders where their strengths can be maximized. A seasoned administrator like Benhur Abalos could focus on coordinating the machinery of government and ensuring that presidential directives are effectively translated into concrete actions. Meanwhile, a technocrat like Ralph Recto could continue contributing his expertise in financial management, economic planning, and fiscal discipline—areas that remain essential as the country navigates economic challenges.

The Philippines today faces a complex set of governance realities that require both strong administrative coordination and sound economic stewardship. Decisions within the Cabinet, particularly in positions as strategic as the Office of the Executive Secretary, can significantly shape the direction and effectiveness of the administration.

History sometimes delays what politics once expected. The appointment that many quietly anticipated in 2022 may yet find its proper place in the unfolding chapters of governance. And if that moment arrives, the Marcos administration may discover that the path once postponed could still lead to a more coordinated, stable, and effective government.

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*About the author:

Dr. Rodolfo “John” Ortiz Teope is a distinguished Filipino academic, public intellectual, and advocate for civic education and public safety, whose work spans local academies and international security circles. With a career rooted in teaching, research, policy, and public engagement, he bridges theory and practice by making meaningful contributions to academic discourse, civic education, and public policy. Dr. Teope is widely respected for his critical scholarship in education, management, economics, doctrine development, and public safety; his grassroots involvement in government and non-government organizations; his influential media presence promoting democratic values and civic consciousness; and his ethical leadership grounded in Filipino nationalism and public service. As a true public intellectual, he exemplifies how research, advocacy, governance, and education can work together in pursuit of the nation’s moral and civic mission.

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