*Dr. Rodolfo John Ortiz Teope, PhD, EdD, DMgt
There are moments in a nation’s history when fate aligns with timing—and one such moment is the return of General Benjamin Acorda to government service. His appointment as Executive Director, with the rank of Undersecretary, of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) is not only a sound administrative decision but a deeply moral one. It sends a message that competence, character, and quiet integrity still have a place in public service.
I say these words not as an outsider looking in, but as someone who once had the privilege of teaching him. General Acorda was one of my students during the Directorial Staff Course at the Philippine Public Safety College. Even then, he carried the distinct discipline of a thinker and the humility of a soldier who listens before he acts. I remember how, in our discussions, he would often reflect on the ethical dimensions of policing—not just on how to arrest criminals, but on how to understand the roots of crime itself. That depth of thought is rare. And now, years later, as he steps into one of the most critical anti-crime positions in the country, I see that same thoughtful leader, only stronger, wiser, and more prepared.
General Acorda’s strength lies in his quiet intelligence. He is not the kind of leader who makes noise to prove his worth; he is the kind who lets results speak for themselves. His long years in intelligence operations taught him the art of patience, precision, and protection of national interests. In a world filled with performative leadership, his kind of silence is refreshing—it is the silence that plans, strategizes, and strikes with accuracy. His tenure as PNP Chief was a testament to this. As in all intelligence work, the most successful operations often go unnoticed. Yet behind those silent victories were arrests made, syndicates dismantled, and lives saved.
Now, as he takes the reins at PAOCC, General Acorda faces a monumental challenge—catching the “heads” of organized crime and turning off the “faucets” that feed corruption, drug trafficking, smuggling, and large-scale fraud. This is not an ordinary assignment; this is an operation that strikes at the arteries of criminal syndicates that have long corrupted the system. But if there is one man capable of doing it, it is him.
President Bongbong Marcos made a wise and timely choice. In a period when public confidence in law enforcement and justice is fragile, the appointment of a man like Acorda restores a sense of moral order. His presence assures the public that the fight against organized crime is not a political show but a strategic, intelligence-driven mission.
General Acorda knows how these criminal networks breathe, where they hide, and how they multiply. His years of experience in intelligence analysis allow him to see patterns that others overlook. He can trace the invisible pipelines of corruption that connect local syndicates to transnational ones. Most importantly, he knows how to close them—quietly, efficiently, and permanently.
Yes, the task before him is enormous. The responsibility is heavy. But if there’s anything I learned from years of teaching and observing leaders in uniform, it’s that true greatness often wears the face of calm determination. Acorda will not shout his achievements; he will simply do the work, and the results will follow.
In these uncertain times, when the country is desperate for genuine reform and action, General Benjamin Acorda’s return to public service is not just an appointment—it is hope taking human form. It is the nation’s quiet prayer answered through a man who once sat in my class, listening, learning, and preparing for this very moment.
And as I look back now, I can only say those words with pride: he is the kind of leader we need—an officer and a gentleman, a man of principle, and a thinker who acts. The kind of man who will, once again, make the silence of intelligence louder than the noise of crime.
