Cordilleran cadet is first PNPA female regimental commander

For nearly five decades, only male cadets held the regimental position at the Philippine National Police Academy until PLT Justine Jade Atiw Calpahi of the Cordillera Region came and broke the chain.

Calpahi is one of the 206 PNPA ‘SINAGLAWIN’ Class of 2025 who completed the 4-year journey at the public safety school. She was given the Leadership Kampilan Award distinction during the ceremony, making her the only female special awardee of their batch.

Finishing her course at the PNPA is not the real icing on the cake in her four years at the academy; it was the engraving of her name in the history of the PNPA.

Talking about girl power, Calpahi, whose roots are from Benguet and Ifugao, broke a 45-year record of male dominance being regimental commanders when she got the position in her final year as a cadet at the PNPA.

Regimental commander is the one responsible for looking into the affairs of the cadet corps. To be able to qualify for the selection for the post, one must possess high ratings in tactics, academics, and extra-curricular.

‘Hindi porket babae sasabihing malambot lang’

In her interview with the Police News Network, the newly-commissioned police officer described herself as a leader with a heart – the one who balances authority and empathy.  

“I would consider myself as a leader who balances authority and also empathy, [a leader] who considers the feelings and the side of her subordinates,” she said.

The Igorot policewoman also stressed that women leaders are not weak, saying, “hindi porket babae is sasabihin mong malambot lang, nandoon pa rin yung strength as a leader.”

It could be recalled that during the Women’s Month Celebration of the PNP, Calpahi was among the five officers cited for the Women in Leadership Award. She was recognized along with female generals of the PNP.