32 years in uniform: PCol. Fati-ig retires, leaves Kalinga police ‘in good hands’

FEATURE

TABUK CITY, Kalinga — For 32 years, PCol. Gilbert Fati-ig wore the police uniform. But as he retired from the Philippine National Police after a year at the helm of the Kalinga Police Provincial Office (KPPO), he said his most important accomplishment was not found in the statistics—it was in the people he helped push beyond what they thought they could do.

Fati-ig, a native of Bangad, Tinglayan, assumed command of the KPPO on October 15, 2025 and turned over the provincial police leadership on October 9, 2026, ending a career in which he served his home province in its police force.

During his one-year stint as provincial police director, KPPO records from October 15, 2025 to September 23, 2026 showed 183 wanted persons arrested and 233 illegal firearms seized or recovered across Kalinga.

Police also conducted 212 anti-illegal drug operations, 24 anti-illegal gambling operations and 64 anti-illegal logging operations during the period.

Traffic enforcement was another major part of the police operations, with 17,580 citation tickets issued for violations of traffic ordinances.

Behind every number, however, were police officers and personnel who spent long hours pursuing wanted persons, conducting operations, enforcing laws and responding to problems in communities across the province.

For Fati-ig, these accomplishments were not his alone.

‘I was hard on you because I believed you could do better’

In his valedictory address during the October 9 turnover ceremony, Fati-ig acknowledged that his leadership style could be demanding.

He admitted that there were times when he was strict, raised his voice and demanded more from his personnel.

But he said there was a reason for it.

“To all the officers and personnel whom I had the privilege to lead and work with, I know there were times when I was strict, raised my voice, and demanded more from you. I was never hard on you to show my authority or to make your work difficult. I was hard on you to push you because I believed that you can do better,” Fati-ig said.

His words offered a glimpse into the leadership behind the year’s operational figures.

Rather than viewing his strictness as an end in itself, Fati-ig said he wanted his personnel to recognize their own potential and go beyond their limits.

The results of that push were reflected in the range of operations carried out during his command—from the pursuit of wanted persons and confiscation of illegal firearms to campaigns against illegal drugs, gambling and logging.

A police force he could trust

As he prepared to leave the service, Fati-ig also looked beyond the accomplishments recorded on paper.

He spoke of young officers who developed under pressure, personnel who overcame challenges and leaders who became stronger through experience.

“I value all these efforts and today, I am proud of what I have seen in all of you. I have seen young officers grow, personnel overcome challenges, and leaders become stronger through experience. Because of this, I retire with confidence that KPPO is in good hands,” he said.

The statement became a fitting reflection of his final days in uniform.

After three decades of police service, Fati-ig was not only leaving behind a list of arrests, seizures and enforcement operations. He was leaving behind officers he believed were capable of carrying the work forward.

From Bangad to the provincial police command

Fati-ig’s retirement also marked the end of a full 32-year career in the PNP.

Coming from Bangad, Tinglayan, he eventually found himself leading the police organization tasked with maintaining peace and enforcing the law in his home province.

His one-year tenure came at a time when Kalinga police faced a range of challenges, including illegal drugs, firearms, illegal logging, gambling, traffic violations and the pursuit of wanted persons.

The operational figures show the scale of the work undertaken during his command.

But in his farewell message, Fati-ig chose to focus on the people behind those numbers.

His final message to the KPPO was therefore less about his own legacy and more about the personnel who would remain after his retirement.

He left with confidence that the officers and personnel he had challenged, corrected and pushed during his one-year command were ready to continue the work.

And after 32 years of wearing the badge, that confidence may be the most personal measure of the service he leaves behind.