History and Milestones of CCJC

The School of Criminology started under the umbrella of the College of Arts and Sciences headed by Dean Evelyn S. Abeja in 1986. It had twenty-five students, three of whom were females, on its first year of operation. However, the current regional demand for law enforcers in the CALABARZON growth corridor attracts more students, many of whom are females.

Three years from its inception, the School of Criminology became a separate entity from the College of Arts and Sciences. Dr. Cesar A. Villariba was the first Director. Ernesto A. Adormeo was appointed Technical Assistant to the Director in May 1992 until May 1994. During his term of office, the School of Criminology received Goverment Recognition No. 003.

On April 2,1990, the first eight students of the School of Criminology obtained their diplomas for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Criminology. Three of them took the Criminologist Licensure Examination in 1990 and one of them, Lorenzo A. Quintillano, placed 13th. It was beautiful beginning for the young department.

Mr. Adormeo resigned two years later and the Board of Trustees designated Dr. Jaime M. Buzar, Vice President for Academic Affairs, to oversee the operation of the School of Criminology effective school year 1994-1995. Dr. Buzar recommended Henedina A. Albacea to chair the Department of Professional Criminology Education while she was finishing her masteral degree in Criminology until she was appointed as Acting Director effective June 1996 vice Dr. Buzar.

For two years, Dr. Buzar supervised the operation of the School of Criminology. It was during his term that Rodrigo L. Ojenal ranked first in the October 1994 Criminologists Licensure Examination bringing honor to the University and boosting the academic program nationwide. The Board of Trustees gave him a testimonal luncheon at the Sulo sa Quezon where the chairman, Congressman Wilfrido L. Enverga, awarded Ojenal a plaque of recognition and a cash incentive of ten thousand pesos for his exemplary pertormance.

Likewise, the Department of Education, Culture and Sports gave the university a plaque citing its outstanding performance in the board examination. A year later, Maricel F. Radones also brought honors to the school when she successfully passed and placed fifth in the 1995 licensure examination. She got a Certificate of Recognition and a cash incentive of seven thousand pesos.

Another feather to Dr. Buzar's cap was Elizabeth Noblejas winning the Miss Enverga University '95 crown, the first time ever a Criminology student garnered the title. The department also figured in the national sports scene with Lalaine L. Argosino winning gold medals in the 1993 and 1994 National PRISAA taekwondo tournaments. Dennis S. Lagumen set the pace earlier by winning silvers in the 1992 and 1993 National PRISAA taekwondo tournaments.

The School of Criminology has an impressive record in the licensure examination, often topping the national passing average. As a proof, the Professional Regulation Commission declared Enverga University's School of Criminology as the fourth best in the country in 1992 and the fifth best in 2001. From a 47 percent passing average in 1991, the School of Criminology posted a consistently rising passing average of 50.36 to 60.25 percent from 1992 to 1995.

This can be credited to the academic qualifications of its faculty. Its current director, Miss Albacea, and a faculty member, Mr. Lagumen, both hold masteral degrees in Criminology. Most of its faculty pool are licensed criminologists and members of law enforcement agencies, giving students total quality training reflective of the marriage between theory and practice.

It also maintains a viable research component participatively undertaken by both faculty and students. Its community outreach program is also relevant as it is responsive to the needs of the community. It regularly undertakes massive beach clean-ups as part of the Save Tayabas Bay Program. It has an ongoing Hatid Lakas Kaalaman sa Kabataan at the Lucena City National High School which aims to develop sound police community relations among the youth, instill discipline among students to prepare them for mature membership in society and to guide the young in value formation.

The thrust for academic excellence continues and this has received independent confirmation with the grant of Level I accreditation by the PACUCOA. With the legacy of its previous directors and the mandate given to its current director, Ms. Albacea, the School of Criminology is poised for greater accomplishments.

The Center of Excellence for Criminology program was granted in 2009, which was renewed in 2016 after passing an extensive evaluation by the Technical Panel and experts of the criminology education program of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).  

The U.S. Department of Justice collaborated with Manuel S. Enverga University Foundation's state-of-the-art multimedia facilities to develop engaging video instructional lectures on cybercrime investigation. The significance of this cooperation is for the further improvement of the training and education of judges, prosecutors, lawyers, police officers, faculty members, and students concerning cybercrimes. By leveraging the University's technological resources, the US DOJ created comprehensive educational instructional materials that provide in-depth knowledge and practical skills, guaranteeing that participants are well-equipped to address the evolving challenges of cybercrimes.

These were also submitted to the United States Department of Justice Headquarters in Washington D.C. as part of the outputs of the series of trainings provided to the selected eight deans of Criminology programs in the Philippines through Dr. Winston J. Casio, Presidential Advisor for Anti-Organized Crimes. The trainings were conducted by Ovie L. Carroll, the Director of the Cybercrime Laboratory, Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS) of the United States Department of Justice. 

The Manuel S. Enverga University Foundation has a strong collaboration with the Philippine National Police in Quezon Province, not only for the On-the-Job Training of students but also for inputs on curriculum enrichment. The Dean of the College of Criminal Justice and Criminology represents the University as one of the members of the Lucena PNP Advisory Council, while the Executive Vice President/Vice President for Academics and Research serves as one of the members of the Quezon PNP Advisory Council.

As a Center of Excellence in Criminology program, the Commission on Higher Education recommended the Institution for benchmarking of other universities and colleges offering the Criminology Program. Naga College Foundation (2011), Bicol College in Daraga, Albay (2016), Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Muntinlupa (2017), Our Lady of Fatima University, Quezon City (2017), Cavite State University, Indang Cavite (2017), and Marasigan Institute of Science and Technology visited the University for benchmarking.

The grace and intelligence displayed by the college's representatives in Ms. Enverga, including Elizabeth Noblejas - Ms.  Enverga 1994, Zaida Villabroza - 1st Runner up 1997, Maricar Homoroc - 1st Runner up 1998, Merish Diane Baronia - 1st Runner up 2006, Jowan F. Delos Reyes - 1st Runner up 2013, Jancel Yogawin - 3rd Runner up 2020, 2nd Princess Andrea Bajaj - 2nd Runner up 2022, and Kassandra Nicole Zagala - 1st Runner up 2023, offer a glimpse into the multifaceted talents within the institution, extending to the significant contributions and leadership of women in the traditionally male-dominated field of criminology.

The College's commitment to quality education is affirmed not only by the seven (7) successful ETEEAP graduates in the 2004 Criminology Licensure Examination but also by its consistent production of top-performing alumni, including luminaries such as Lorenzo A. Quintallano  (13th Placer, 1991), Rodrigo L. Ojenal (1st Placer, 1994), Maricel F. Radones (5th Placer, 1995), Angelo P. Villanueva (12th Placer, 1998), Alexis Oliver V. Nava (1st Placer, 2000), Margarito L. Umali (7th Placer, 2000), Maria Portia Olenka C. Placino (Top 3, October 2008), John Bonrev Roi V. Rodas (Top 1, June 2019), and John Michael S. Pontiveros (Top 7, November 2019).

The Criminology program of the Manuel S. Enverga University Foundation started its preliminary accreditation under the PACUCOA in 1996. After two years, the Criminology program was granted Level II status. The program underwent first to third reaccreditations for Level II status until 2012 and was granted Level III status in 2017. At present, the Criminology program of Manuel S. Enverga University Foundation is Level IV accredited by the PACUCOA, effective November 2023 and valid until 2028. 

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