Retired PNP official in hot water for wearing shoes worth P70,000

National

THE National Police Commission (Napolcom) has come under fresh pressure after confirming it has received multiple complaints from police officers alleging corruption and mismanagement during the tenure of a former director of the Philippine National Police Health Service who retired late last year.

Napolcom officials said the complaints surfaced amid public backlash over the former police general’s appearance in uniform wearing a pair of branded shoes reportedly worth more than P70,000 — an incident that sparked scrutiny far beyond questions of dress code.

Two days before her retirement on Dec. 25, the police brigadier general was formally charged administratively for conduct unbecoming of a police officer.

The case was filed after photos circulated showing her wearing the expensive footwear while in official uniform, raising concerns about propriety and public image.

In a report by Inquirer.net, Napolcom Executive Officer Rafael Calinisan said the issue goes deeper than fashion. He revealed that more than five police officers, including personnel from within the Health Service, have lodged complaints since October, citing alleged corruption and mismanagement under the former official’s leadership.

While Calinisan declined to detail the specific allegations, he said the cases are now under investigation. He stressed that the agency takes seriously reports coming from rank-and-file officers who sought help after internal channels allegedly failed to address their concerns.

Apart from the conduct-related charge, the former Health Service chief is also facing a separate administrative case for less grave neglect of duty.

Napolcom said this stemmed from her alleged failure to comply with an order to submit complete medical and psychological records of a Quezon City police officer under investigation for making seditious remarks.

The controversy also renewed attention on uniform regulations.

Napolcom cited existing PNP memoranda and resolutions that strictly define the design and appearance of authorized patrol and athletic shoes, emphasizing uniformity and practicality rather than brand or price.

Calinisan said no specific brand is prescribed under current rules, but warned that wearing extravagant items while in uniform can undermine public trust in the police. He said officers are free to enjoy personal luxuries — but not while representing the institution.

In the wake of the incident, Napolcom said it is now considering tightening guidelines on patrol footwear to prevent similar controversies.(Xienderlyn Trinidad, USJ-R Comm Intern)