National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) Commissioner Rafael Calinisan on Friday dismissed allegations of clout-chasing, clarifying that he has no intentions of running for public office in the upcoming 2028 elections.
Calinisan clarified his stance during a tense press briefing confrontation with Police Corporal Simeon Suan, the law enforcer at the center of a controversial senior citizen arrest that recently trended online.
The commissioner maintained that his scrutiny of the incident is strictly tied to his official mandate and completely divorced from political motives, explaining that he operates as a public interest attorney rather than a politician.
“Hindi po ako tatakbo sa eleksyon. Ako po’y anak ng pulis na nagtatrabaho, gusto ko lang gampanan ang tungkulin ko. Porket ba ginagawa mo ‘yung tungkulin mo, nagpapapogi ka? Hindi po ako pulitiko. Ako po’y isang public interest lawyer na nalagay sa NAPOLCOM. Ginagampanan ko po ang tungkulin ko para sa taumbayan,” he said.
Calinisan further highlighted the critical need for law enforcement accountability, especially when police actions spark widespread public concern on digital platforms.
He argued that transparency in these high-profile incidents is vital to preserving civilian trust in state institutions.
“Kasi it’s a public offense, everyone knows. Ano bang sasabihin natin sa taumbayan? Wala, klaro-klaro ‘yung offense sa taumbayan, hindi puwedeng hindi natin aksyunan ‘yan… Paano maniniwala ang taumbayan sa gobyerno kapag may isang nangyari na alam ng buong Pilipinas tapos walang aksyon, solusyon ang gobyerno?” he told reporters.
The dispute stems from widespread public anger over a viral video showing Corporal Suan aggressively pulling an elderly man out of his car, placing him in handcuffs, and dragging him up during an enforcement operation.