Dubai: Two Philippine National Police (PNP) officers say their experience in Dubai has reshaped how they think about the future of policing, inspiring plans to advance more proactive, technology enabled and community focused approaches when they return home.

Major Richard Curada Luzano and Captain Modesto Dumanging Nahiwan joined officers from 45 countries in the third edition of the Policing Innovation and International Leadership Diploma (PIL), organised by Dubai Police in cooperation with Rabdan Academy.

Both described the experience as transformative, providing exposure to advanced policing concepts that bring together innovation, leadership and community engagement while creating opportunities to learn directly from law enforcement professionals operating in vastly different environments.

A New Perspective on Modern Policing

For Major Luzano, joining PIL was driven by a desire to pursue professional excellence and strengthen his leadership capabilities.

“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.

Among his most important takeaways was adaptive leadership. He said effective policing today requires strategic thinking, innovation and the ability to collaborate with different stakeholders while proactively responding to emerging challenges.

Captain Nahiwan joined with the aim of gaining a global perspective on policing innovation, but said the experience ultimately delivered much more.

“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.

For Nahiwan, genuine policing excellence is ultimately about creating impact, adding value to public service, and operating with legitimacy and procedural fairness.

Innovation and Leadership at the Core

Both officers identified leadership and innovation as two of the programme’s most influential elements.

Major Luzano particularly valued frameworks including Tuckman’s model of group dynamics and innovation methodologies. He said innovation requires organisations to improve what already exists while simultaneously exploring possibilities beyond traditional boundaries.

Captain Nahiwan highlighted the integration of smart technologies, leadership development and community engagement, describing the combination as fundamental to creating a proactive and effective policing system.

Bringing Philippine Experience to Dubai

The exchange was not one way. Both officers brought their own country’s policing experience into the international learning environment.

Major Luzano shared the Philippine National Police’s experience in community engagement strategies and proactive crime prevention.

Captain Nahiwan highlighted community partnerships, adaptability during crises and operational resilience.

Both officer said this cross-border exchange of knowledge enriched the learning experience for participants and demonstrated the value of bringing different policing perspectives together.

Dubai’s Smart Policing Leaves an Impression

Dubai Police’s approach to innovation was among the experiences that made the strongest impression on the two officers.