A native of Negros Oriental and former chief of the Dumaguete City Police Office (DCPO), Police Brigadier General Crisaleo Tolentino, has been designated as the new Officer-in-Charge of the Philippine National Police Maritime Group, following a formal Turnover of Office Ceremony held on May 28, 2026, at the PNP Officers' Star Lounge, Camp Crame, Quezon City.
The ceremony was presided over by PNP Chief Police General Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr., who witnessed the formal transfer of leadership from outgoing Director PBGen Lou F. Evangelista to incoming OIC PBGen Tolentino. The event marks a significant milestone for Negros Oriental, as one of its own now commands one of the PNP's key operational units responsible for national maritime security.
NegOrense Roots and Career in Dumaguete
PBGen Crisaleo Tolentino's ties to Negros Oriental run deep. He previously served as the chief of the Dumaguete City Police Office, where he was responsible for law enforcement operations in the provincial capital of Negros Oriental. His tenure at the DCPO placed him at the center of public safety governance in one of the Visayas region's major urban centers.
Tolentino also served as head of the Negros Oriental Regional Police Provincial Office (NORPPO), a position that gave him broad oversight of police operations across the entire province. His progression from the DCPO to the NORPPO, and subsequently to national leadership roles, traces a career arc firmly rooted in the region he comes from.
He is the brother of Atty. Karissa Faye Tolentino-Maxino, a former vice mayor and city councilor of Dumaguete City, making the Tolentino family a known presence in both the law enforcement and political landscape of the province.
Ceremony at Camp Crame Marks Formal Leadership Transition
The Turnover of Office Ceremony on May 28, 2026, served as the official mechanism through which PBGen Tolentino assumed command of the PNP Maritime Group. In the Philippine National Police's institutional tradition, such ceremonies are formal events that underscore continuity of leadership and organizational stability within the PNP's command structure.
According to a statement from the PNP Public Information Office (PNP-PIO), the event highlighted the Maritime Group's commitment to safeguarding Philippine seas and strengthening maritime security operations in support of national interests. The PNP described the transition as one focused on delivering "efficient, responsive, and mission-oriented police service for the Filipino people."
The PNP Maritime Group is one of the national support units of the PNP. It is tasked with enforcing laws and maintaining peace and order in Philippine waters, including inland waterways, rivers, lakes, and the country's vast archipelagic sea lanes. The unit plays a critical role in interdicting illegal activities at sea, including smuggling, illegal fishing, and human trafficking.
From Provincial Police Chief to National Maritime Commander
PBGen Tolentino's rise to the leadership of the PNP Maritime Group represents a significant career trajectory for an officer who began building his national profile from the grounds of Negros Oriental. His assignments in Dumaguete and across the province served as foundational postings before he ascended to higher commands within the PNP's organizational hierarchy.
His designation as OIC — rather than a full directorial appointment — indicates that the position may be subject to further formal confirmation within the PNP's personnel system. Officers designated as OIC in the PNP typically perform the full functions of the directorial role while a formal appointment is being processed or confirmed through the proper channels.
The PNP-PIO statement noted that the organization remains focused on its mandate under the banner of "Bagong PNP para sa Bagong Pilipinas: Serbisyong Mabilis, Tapat, at Nararamdaman" — a campaign framework aligned with the Marcos administration's broader governance reform agenda.
PNP Chief Nartatez Ranks Among Top-Rated Officials in Governance Survey
The Maritime Group leadership transition comes at a time of heightened public confidence in the PNP's top leadership. PNP Chief PGen Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr. was recently ranked among the country's top-rated government officials in the latest "Boses ng Bayan" Index of Governance (IOG) survey conducted by RPMD Foundation Inc.
The survey, conducted from April 1 to 8, 2026, covered 5,000 respondents nationwide. PGen Nartatez garnered a 78.8% Index of Governance score, supported by a 78.5% trust rating and a 79.1% performance rating, according to the PNP-PIO statement released in connection with the survey findings.
In a statement following the release of the survey results, PGen Nartatez credited the ranking not to individual achievement but to the collective service of uniformed personnel across the country.
"We are grateful for the trust and confidence of our fellow Filipinos. This recognition is not for one person alone but for the men and women of the PNP who work tirelessly every day to keep our communities safe. Malaking inspirasyon ito para lalo pa naming pagbutihin ang aming serbisyo," PGen Nartatez said, according to the PNP-PIO statement.
He further underscored the PNP's institutional commitment to community engagement and transparency in policing operations.
"Patuloy nating palalakasin ang ating ugnayan sa mga komunidad at sisiguraduhin natin na ang bawat aksyon ng PNP ay nakatuon sa kapakanan ng mamamayan. Public trust is our most valuable asset, and we will continue working hard to deserve it," Nartatez added.
Survey Reflects Growing Public Confidence in PNP Reforms
The RPMD Foundation Inc. survey results reflect what the PNP describes as sustained public confidence in the organization's efforts to maintain peace and order and enhance the delivery of police services across the country. According to the PNP-PIO, the results also highlight growing recognition of the organization's ongoing reforms and operational initiatives.
The PNP has been implementing programs under its Focused Agenda, which includes enhanced police operations and improved public service delivery systems. These initiatives are aimed at making law enforcement more responsive to the needs of communities at all levels — from local precincts to national operational units such as the Maritime Group.
The survey findings come as the PNP continues to position itself as a reformed and professionalized institution under the Marcos administration's governance framework. The organization has emphasized integrity, accountability, and people-centered policing as core values guiding its operations.
Maritime Group Mandate and Strategic Importance
The PNP Maritime Group, under its new OIC, operates across the Philippine archipelago's extensive coastlines and inland waters. The Philippines, as an island nation composed of over 7,600 islands, relies heavily on maritime law enforcement to secure its sea borders and protect its exclusive economic zone from illegal activities.
The unit works in coordination with other law enforcement and defense agencies, including the Philippine Coast Guard and the Armed Forces of the Philippines, in joint maritime operations. Its responsibilities extend to search and rescue operations, disaster response at sea, and the enforcement of maritime laws and regulations.
With PBGen Tolentino now at the helm as OIC, the Maritime Group's operational direction is expected to continue along the lines established by his predecessor, PBGen Evangelista, while incorporating the incoming commander's own priorities and strategic emphases shaped by years of field experience — including his formative years of service in the waters and communities of Negros Oriental.
Photo credit: Photo courtesy of PNP-PIO