National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) Chief Commissioner Rafael Vicente Calinisan received unexpected commendations from Senators Raffy Tulfo and JV Ejercito during the Senate deliberations on the Commission’s proposed 2026 budget — a moment Calinisan described as surprising, but motivating.

Calinisan recalled that Senator Tulfo acknowledged the reforms currently being implemented at NAPOLCOM, a gesture he did not anticipate.

“Maraming salamat po kay Sen. Raffy Tulfo at narecognize po nya ang mga ginagawa nating reporma dito sa NAPOLCOM. Nakakahiya mang ikwento, pero sabi ni Sen. Tulfo during the budget deliberation natin na sobrang kinagulat ko, 'Balita ko yung bagong Commissioner medyo ok ok naman, kumpara dun sa mga dating Commissioner.'”

Senator JV Ejercito, sponsor of the NAPOLCOM budget, echoed Tulfo’s comments and attributed the Commission’s progress to Calinisan’s competence and long service in the Quezon City People’s Law Enforcement Board (PLEB). He noted that under Calinisan’s leadership — in coordination with the Department of the Interior and Local Government — NAPOLCOM drastically reduced its backlog from around 4,000 cases to just about 200 pending cases.

“Atty. Ralph Calinisan served for a long time in the PLEB of Quezon City so nagtagal po sya dun. May experience po and I think there are a lot of reforms that were instituted when he took over… kaya nga po yung 60 days (case disposition), yung backlog nga yung pinagtulungan nila ng DILG Secretary from four thousand cases, nasa two hundred na lang daw po ngayon ang pending. So I think this agency is worth helping… hopefully by next year if we can augment the budget para mas maging epektibo ang NAPOLCOM in their performance of their task — to investigate and make sure our law enforcers are in the right direction.”

Calinisan expressed gratitude for the recognition from the senators.

“Nagpapasalamat po tayo sa pagkilala ni Sen. Raffy Tulfo at ang pagsegunda ni Sen. JV Ejercito, ang aming sponsor sa budget. Thank you po mga Senators.”

He emphasized that the credit belongs to the entire institution.

“This recognition is not because of the work of just one person. It is the work of the ENTIRE Commission. I extend my gratitude to my fellow Commissioners, Comm. Josephus Angan and Comm. Bea Vega-Cancio. I also acknowledge the support of the Acting Chief of the Philippine National Police, Jose Melencio Nartatez, and of course, the clear guidance of DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla, our big boss. We likewise recognize HEA Alvin Mojica, Col. Marlon Santos, and former Commissioner Rico Bernabe. My thanks also go to everyone in NAPOLCOM — from the Directors to all the rank-and-file employees. You are the reason for this achievement.”

Calinisan also thanked Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte for trusting him during his time at PLEB QC.

“As we continue to work in NAPOLCOM, may we always be inspired to work for the People," he said.

NAPOLCOM is expected to clear its 25-year case backlog for the first time by the end of December 2025.