Chief of the Philippine National Police
The Chief of the Philippine National Police is the head of the Philippines' national police body, the Philippine National Police. The position is invariably held by a Police General, a four star general police officer.
The PNP chief is also an ex officio member of the National Police Commission.
Eligibility
The Department of the Interior and Local Government Act of 1990, the law establishing the Philippine National Police, states that the President shall appoint the Philippine National Police Chief from among a list prepared by the National Police Commission of "the most senior and qualified officers in the service" given that the prospect appointee has not yet retired or within six months from their compulsory retirement age. The lowest rank of a qualified appointee shall be the rank of Police Brigadier General. The appointment of the PNP chief by the President requires confirmation from the Commission on Appointments.Powers and functions
The holder of the position of PNP Chief holds the rank of "Police General". Prior to February 2019, this rank was known as "Director General", According to Sec. 26 of the PNP Chief shall have:- Command and direction of the PNP; the power to direct and control tactical as well as strategic movements, deployment, placement, utilization of the PNP or any of its units and personnel, including its equipment, facilities and other resources. Such command and direction of the Chief of the PNP may be delegated to subordinate officials with the respect to the units under their respective commands, in accordance with the rules and regulation prescribed by the Commission.
- Power to issue detailed implementing policies and instructions regarding personnel, funds, properties, records, correspondence and such other matters as may be necessary to effective carry out the functions, powers and duties of the Bureau.
Tenure
Deputies
The PNP Chief is assisted by two Deputy Chiefs; one for administration and another dedicated to operations. The current deputy chief for administration is Police LtGen. Camilo Cascolan while the current deputy chief for operations is Police LtGen. Guillermo Ellazar.List
| No. | Name | Term |
| 1 | Cesar P. Nazareno | March 31, 1991 – August 28, 1992 |
| 2 | Raul S. Imperial | August 28, 1992 – May 6, 1993 |
| 3 | Umberto A. Rodriguez | May 6, 1993 – July 8, 1994 |
| 4 | Recaredo A. Sarmiento II | July 8, 1994 – December 15, 1997 |
| 5 | Santiago L. Alino | December 15, 1997 – July 1998 |
| 6 | Roberto T. Lastimoso | July 1998 – June 1999 |
| – | Edmundo L. Larroza | June 1999 – November 16, 1999 |
| 7 | Panfilo Lacson | November 16, 1999 – January 20, 2001 |
| 8 | Leandro Mendoza | March 16, 2001** - March 17, 2002 |
| 9 | Hermogenes Ebdane | March 17, 2002 – August 23, 2004 |
| 10 | Edgar B. Aglipay | August 23, 2004 – March 14, 2005 |
| 11 | Arturo Lomibao | March 14, 2005 – July 5, 2006 |
| 12 | Oscar C. Calderon | July 5, 2006 – October 1, 2007 |
| 13 | Avelino I. Razon Jr. | October 1, 2007 – September 27, 2008 |
| 14 | Jesus A. Verzosa | September 27, 2008 – September 14, 2010 |
| 15 | Atty. Raul M. Bacalzo, Ph.D. | September 14, 2010 – September 9, 2011 |
| 16 | Nicanor A. Bartolome, Ph.D., CSEE | September 9, 2011 – December 17, 2012 |
| 17 | Alan L.M. Purisima | December 17, 2012 – February 5, 2015 |
| – | Leonardo A. Espina, PESE | February 5, 2015 – July 16, 2015 |
| 18 | Ricardo C. Marquez | July 16, 2015 – June 30, 2016 |
| 19 | Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa, Ph.D., CSEE | July 1, 2016 – April 19, 2018 |
| 20 | Oscar David Albayalde | April 19, 2018 – October 14, 2019 |
| 21 | Atty. Archie Francisco F. Gamboa | October 14, 2019 – January 20, 2020 January 20, 2020 – incumbent |
| – | Camilo Cascolan | March 05, 2020 – March 08, 2020 |