In an exclusive interview with The Philippine STAR, Lipa, Batangas’ first female chief of police Aleli Cuyan Buaquen, who is also a lawyer, looks back on her journey as she juggles her time for her family and duty to the male-dominated world of the Philippine National Police.
Atty. Aleli graduated from the Philippine National Police Academy in 2011. She also has a master’s degree in public administration from Batangas State University. After finishing law school at Arellano University, she passed the Bar exam in 2019.
Growing up, Atty. Aleli said that she dreamt of being a lawyer but since her father is a policeman, she tried entering the academy.
“Siya nag-encourage na mag-take kami ng exam sa PNPA. Actually, dalawa kaming nakapasok. Mag-classmate kami, nung kapatid ko. Nagtuloy-tuloy kami sa processing. So, nag-graduate kami 2011,” she shared.
Atty. Aleli was born and raised in Baguio City. She and her family are proud Igorot.
“Igurot ako, Ibaloi ‘yung tribe ko. At practitioner pa rin ‘yung family namin dun sa culture namin. Hanggang ngayon, nagkakanyaw kami and all. That kind of tradition would keep our family intact. And it’s also a way for us to honor our ancestors and to continue our rich culture in Baguio City as a member of indigenous community,” she said.
After successfully finishing PNPA, she was assigned in Batangas. She was also once part of the Presidential Security Group of former president Rodrigo Duterte.
“As part ng PSG, ay lagi akong may baon na libro. Kasi kapag aid ka, ikaw ‘yung unang dapat na magising. At maraming waiting time. Naantay mo ‘yung principal mo eh. Tapos ikaw rin ‘yung huling matutulog. So, kapag nagaantay kami, I took time before na talagang magbuklat ng libro,” Atty. Aleli said.
Adding, “Tapos na-develop ko yung skill na kahit magulo ‘yung paligid, [nakasakay sa] C-130, nakakapagbasa ako. Eventually, ay natapos ko ‘yung pag-aabogasya, ‘yung law school ko noong 2019. At nakapasa rin ako sa [bar] same year.”
Even after reaching her dream of becoming a lawyer, Atty. Aleli continued to serve in the PNP.
She was also the first female chief of San Jose, Batangas before she was assigned in Lipa in 2025.
“May nagsabi sa akin dati, ano daw silbi na nagpakapagod ako na nag-abogas siya, eh hindi naman daw ako alis sa service. You can easily enforce something that you understand. Malaking tulong siya sa akin kasi hindi ako nangangapa,” said Atty. Aleli
“Hindi rin ako nagdadalawang isip sa mga desisyon ko, lalo na sa mga desisyon na may mga legal questions. Hindi ako nagdadalawang isip na magbigay agad ng agarang desisyon sa mga critical na sitwasyon. Contento pa rin ako sa PNP. Marami pa rin ako nakikita ng opportunities na pwede akong mag-grow at makapag-contribute sa society,” she added.
When asked about her thoughts and experience in working in a male-dominated industry, Atty. Aleli was firm that serving the people has no gender.
“Confident ako na hindi ko lang kayang gawin. Kundi kaya kong higitan. Kasi nakita ko naman, I have the experience, I have the knowledge, at kung ano man ‘yung qualifications nila [mga lalaki], nakuha ko naman eh. So, ano ba ‘yung pagkakaiba nun? Sabi nga, success has no gender. Service has no gender. So, ‘yung mga accomplishments, ‘yung mga kailangang i-deliver sa tao, walang gender ‘yun,” she noted.
“Ang nasa isip ko kasi, sigurado d’yan ako titignan sa performance.Kasi ang PNP, mas binubuo siya ng mas maraming male. At traditionally, by history talaga, mga lalaki ‘yung mga naghe-hepe. So, expectedly, I’m expecting talaga na titignan ako ng mga tao na ikukumpara nila. Kaya ba niya ‘to?Kaya niya bang i-solve ‘yung mga krimen? Kaya niya bang i-prevent ‘yung crime? Kaya niya bang manghuli?” she added.
Atty. Aleli was proud to share her accomplishments as a woman leader.
“With my first two months, kahit dun sa nung-hepe pa ako ng San Jose, lagi namang number one ‘yung unit ko pagdating sa mga operational accomplishments as well as sa administrative. Hindi lang tayo pang administrative, pati pang operational na rin despite of having to take care of our family and our children,” she stressed.
While being a wife, a mom of three, a lawyer and the head of Lipa PNP, Atty. Aleli revealed what kept her going.
“Hindi naman dapat tayo maging toxic. Kung ano lang nararapat. At sa pag pagsaserve ko for almost dalawang dekada na as a police officer, parang pag-aalaga rin lang ng pamilya ‘yan. Parang nanay din. I think ‘yun ‘yung advantage natin kasi ang babae kaya niyang mag-multitask, kaya niyang tignan ‘yung mga detalye at andyan ‘yung nurturing side natin. She won’t do anything bad that would harm our children,” she said.
“Una, ‘yung faith natin sa Diyos. Pangalawa, kailan may capital din tayo. Nung bata ako, nag-start akong mag-aral din ng mabuti. Validictorian ako sa PNPA. At nag-abogado ko. Talagang hinasa ko rin ‘yung sarili ko. And third, kailangan marunong tayong makisama. It will fuel you to keep going, to keep improving in life. And you will dream of having this world a better place, of building or contributing for this world to become better. Gusto mo ‘yung mga anak mo ay may mundo na gagalawan na maayos, na mabuti,” she added.
