Two Philippine National Police officers who completed the Dubai Police policing diploma returned home with plans to reshape how their units approach leadership, technology and community engagement. Major Richard Curada Luzano and Captain Modesto Dumanging Nahiwan were among 60 participants from 42 countries who took part in the third edition of the Policing Innovation and International Leadership Diploma (PIL).
The programme was organised by Dubai Police’s General Department of Training in cooperation with Rabdan Academy, running from 12 January to 2 May 2026. Its launch was announced on 5 January 2026 from Abu Dhabi.
Earlier reporting put participation at 45 countries; Rabdan Academy’s own announcement gives the figure as 42. This article uses the academy’s published number.
What the Dubai Police policing diploma covers
Rabdan Academy describes the PIL as the first programme of its kind in the region to focus on police innovation and the preparation of international police leaders. Previous editions covered risk management, business continuity, future foresight, digital transformation for financial crime prevention, organisational psychology in policing, and policing in smart and resilient cities.
The third edition grew on both measures: the second had 53 participants from 38 countries, meaning the cohort rose by 14 percent and the number of participating countries by 16 percent, according to Brigadier Mohammad Atiq Thani, Director of Dubai Police’s Regulatory Office and Deputy Head of the PIL Team.
Brigadier Badran Saeed Al Shamsi, Acting Assistant Commander-in-Chief for Academic Affairs and Training and Head of the PIL Team, said the programme equips participants with knowledge and scientific tools aligned with global security trends, supporting the UAE and Dubai’s role in preparing highly qualified police leaders.
What the two officers are bringing back
For Luzano, the standout lesson was adaptive leadership: the idea that police leaders must think strategically, embrace new approaches and work across different stakeholders while keeping ahead of emerging challenges.
‘This programme provided me with a unique opportunity to enhance my leadership capabilities, broaden my perspective on modern policing strategies and gain valuable insights into innovative practices that can be applied within my organisation,’ he said.
He also took from the programme frameworks including Tuckman’s model of group dynamics and several innovation methodologies, which he said gave him new ways to think about how teams and organisations can work better. Innovation, in his view, is not only about introducing something completely new but also about improving existing systems.
Nahiwan came to the programme looking for a broader view of international policing and said he left with more than he had anticipated.
‘The programme strengthened international cooperation among participating countries and equipped me with a forward-looking mindset to develop our services in the Philippines,’ he said.
His focus was the intersection of smart technology, leadership and community engagement. He wants to use those elements together to make policing more proactive and responsive.
The exchange ran in both directions. Luzano shared the Philippine National Police’s work in community engagement and proactive crime prevention; Nahiwan spoke about community partnerships, crisis response and operational resilience. Officers from other countries contributed their own approaches, adding further context to how different policing environments handle similar problems.
Luzano now plans to strengthen his leadership style and push for a stronger culture of innovation within his organisation, with an emphasis on community engagement and strategic problem-solving. Nahiwan intends to advance technology-led and community-focused approaches aimed at improving public trust and police service quality in the Philippines.
A fourth edition of the PIL has not been announced. Rabdan Academy’s programme page carries details of the third edition launch for those seeking the full curriculum outline.
