Peña was the highest ranking police officer who did not graduate from the Philippine Military Academy (PMA).
PNP chief Director Leandro Mendoza expressed sorrow at the sudden loss of his second deputy at the PNP as officers and the rank and file mourned his death.
"General Peña’s passing is a big loss to the PNP. He was a fine office and a professional policeman," Mendoza said. Peña was 55.
Mendoza cited Peña’s experience as a seasoned police investigator who rose from the ranks of the now defunct Integrated National Police.
"The legacy he left behind is probably his experience in crime investigation which he freely shared with younger generations of police investigators," Mendoza said.
Peña, a lawyer and a decorated officer, entered the police service in 1966 as a police recruit and graduated from the then Makati Police Academy.
Peña worked for the implementation of the police detective and beat patrol system in the different police districts in Metro Manila during his brief stint as director of the National Capital Regional Police Office (NCRPO).
He also served as PNP Director for Investigation and Detection Management, then later as The Chief of Directorial Staff. Peña is an associate member of PMA Class 1970.
Chief Superintendent Rowland Albano, deputy chief for administration of (NCRPO) said Peña’s death was a big loss to the police organization. "I considered him as the unsung hero of the PNP because of his vast accomplishments and I was depressed by his untimely death," said Albano.
Albano also served as Peña’s deputy for administration during the latter’s brief stint as NCRPO chief, Peña and the present NCRPO chief Deputy Director General Edgar Galvante swapped positions last July 12.
He was also credited for being the composer of the new PNP hymn. He held the number third top post in the police hierarchy, apart from being a host of the weekly TV show Police Hour, a radio talent, a lawyer, an author, an accomplished ballroom dancer and equally accomplished choracle group mentor and member. Even to his last breath, Peña wanted to leave a legacy to the police. His illness did not deter him from going to his office to work. – Christina Mendez and Non Alquitran