Photo credit: PCO

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has appointed former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Benjamin Acorda Jr. as the new executive director of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC).

Acorda takes over the post from Undersecretary Gilbert Cruz, who previously spearheaded the government’s crackdown on illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (POGOs) and other organized crime activities. Malacañang confirmed the appointment on Wednesday.

Acorda, a member of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Sambisig Class of 1991, served as PNP chief from April 2023 to March 2024. Before that, he led the PNP Directorate for Intelligence — a role that honed his expertise in surveillance and crime prevention, making him a strong fit for the country’s top anti-organized crime office.

Cruz, who assumed the PAOCC Undersecretary post in January 2023, played a key role in enforcing President Marcos’ directive to intensify the fight against POGO-related crimes such as human trafficking and cyber fraud.

Established under Executive Order No. 295 in 2000, the PAOCC serves as the government’s main inter-agency body tasked to coordinate, plan, and execute operations targeting organized criminal groups — including those with potential protectors within government ranks.

With Acorda now at the helm, expectations are high for the agency to sustain and strengthen its campaign against organized crime. His appointment signals what many see as a continued push by the Marcos administration to restore public confidence in law enforcement and reinforce accountability across government.