Atty. Rafael Vicente Calinisan is a Filipino certified public accountant, lawyer, government official, and academic who currently serves as the Vice Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) of the Philippines, the body charged with the administrative control and operational supervision of the Philippine National Police (PNP).
A graduate of the University of the Philippines and the University of Pennsylvania Law School, where he served as class president of his LL.M. batch, Calinisan brings an unusual combination of accounting expertise, corporate law experience, and public sector leadership to the country’s highest civilian police oversight body.
Profile
| Full Name | Rafael Vicente Calinisan |
| Hometown | Metro Manila, Philippines |
| Nationality | Filipino |
| Occupation | Lawyer, CPA, Government Official, Academic |
| Current Position | Vice Chairperson and CEO, National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) |
| Education | B.S. Business Administration and Accountancy, University of the Philippines; LL.M., University of Pennsylvania Law School (2013–2014) |
Early Life
Rafael Vicente Calinisan was born and raised in Metro Manila, Philippines. Details about his parents and siblings are not publicly available.
From an early age he showed a strong academic aptitude in both business and law, eventually pursuing a double major in Accountancy and Business Management at the University of the Philippines, one of the country’s most competitive academic institutions, before adding a legal career to his professional portfolio.
Education
Calinisan earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Accountancy (double major) from the University of the Philippines between 1996 and 2001. He subsequently pursued a legal education, qualifying as a member of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP). In 2013–2014, he attended the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School, graduating with a Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Corporations Law, Contracts, Constitutional Law, and Election Law. During his LL.M., he was elected class president of the graduating batch, a distinction he highlighted in his commencement address, in which he challenged his fellow graduates to be responsible world citizens. He later taught as a Senior Lecturer at the University of the Philippines from 2011 to 2015, and as a professor at Ateneo de Manila University.
Career
Calinisan began his post-graduate career in the private sector, serving as Managing Partner at the law firm Calinisan, Domino and Beron Offices, where he practised corporate and commercial law. His early government service included his appointment as Chairman and Executive Officer of the People’s Law Enforcement Board (PLEB) in Quezon City, a civilian oversight mechanism for complaints against local police. He also served as the former Chief Executive Officer of EV Solutions, a technology company, and was associated with EducationUSA Philippines at the U.S. Embassy in Manila.
His entry into national police oversight came with his appointment as Commissioner at NAPOLCOM, representing the civilian sector, a role that reflects the Commission’s mandate to maintain non-military, civilian oversight of the PNP in accordance with the Philippine Constitution. His most recent appointment, confirmed in April 2025, was as Vice Chairperson and CEO of NAPOLCOM, the highest executive position in the Commission. At his appointment ceremony, Calinisan pledged to make NAPOLCOM “proactive” and “receptive to the needs of the PNP and the people,” promising to serve with “dignity and integrity” while prioritising the morale and welfare of PNP personnel.
Personal Life
No verified information about Rafael Vicente Calinisan’s personal life, family, or marital status is available in publicly accessible sources.
Net Worth
No verified personal net worth figure is available for Rafael Vicente Calinisan.
His income is derived from his government service as NAPOLCOM Vice Chairperson and CEO and his professional legal practice.
Conclusion
Rafael Vicente Calinisan’s appointment to the top executive post at NAPOLCOM represents the culmination of a career that has moved fluidly between elite academic achievement, corporate legal practice, and public sector service.
His LL.M. from the University of Pennsylvania, his CPA qualification, and his years of civic engagement through the People’s Law Enforcement Board equip him with an unusually broad foundation for leading the Philippines’ primary civilian police oversight body.
His appointment in 2025 comes at a critical moment for Philippine law enforcement accountability, and his pledge to serve with dignity and integrity reflects the expectations of the constitutional mandate he now carries.
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