January 9, 2026
MANILA – The National Police Commission (Napolcom) said on Wednesday that it has received more complaints from police officers regarding corruption during the term of a former Philippine National Police Health Service (PNP HS) director who retired in December.
Two days before her retirement on Dec. 25, the police brigadier general was charged administratively by the Napolcom for conduct unbecoming of a police officer. This was after she wore a pair of branded shoes supposedly worth over P70,000 with her police uniform.
“People might say it’s just a pair of shoes, right? There have been multiple reports on alleged corruption in the Health Service, which we have received,” Napolcom Executive Officer Rafael Calinisan told reporters.
Still under investigation
“We were able to speak with numerous police officials. Some of them are from the Health Service itself, who have reported mismanagement [under the police brigadier general],” he added. According to him, “more than five” officers have sought recourse from the Napolcom since last October.
Asked to detail what instances of “corruption” and “mismanagement” were reported, Calinisan did not elaborate, saying only that the incidents were under investigation.
Although other media have identified the former PNP HS director, the Inquirer decided not to name her until it is able to get her side on the issue against her.
READ: PNP logs 49.5% drop in 2025 online selling scams
Aside from conduct unbecoming of an officer, the police official was also charged with less grave neglect of duty. According to Calinisan, this was after she failed to comply with a Napolcom order to submit the complete medical and psychological evaluation of a Quezon City police officer who was being investigated for making seditious statements.
Shoe specifications
The Napolcom official, meanwhile, pointed to PNP Memorandum DRD(C)-241121-487 issued on Dec. 3, 2024, which prescribes the particulars and usage of all-white rubber shoes and all-black patrol shoes to maintain uniformity among police personnel.
Under the memorandum, the all-white rubber shoes must be “low-cut with shoelace and intended for athletic [use] or running.”
On the other hand, the all-black patrol shoes must be “mid-cut or low-cut with [a] round front portion; with tongue and shoelace; with a minimum of four sets of eyelets; made of canvas, leather, nylon or cotton; and have a black sole.”
Calinisan also cited Napolcom Resolution No. 2024-0643, which also prescribes the specific standards for black mid-cut patrol shoes.
Neither the PNP memo nor the Napolcom resolution prescribes any brand for the use of police personnel.
Calinisan, however, justified their case against the former PNP HS director. “The public standing of a policeman is put into question when one is in uniform and wearing extravagant items,” he said.
“The things we save up for, we all aspire to have nice things; there’s nothing wrong with that. But, if you are in uniform … things must be uniform,” he added.
Calinisan said that the Napolcom was considering updating its standards on all-black patrol shoes to be more specific about what is acceptable. /cb