Brig. Gen. Rafael Cramé (October 2, 1863 — January 1, 1927) was a Filipino Constabulary officer who served as Chief of the former Philippine Constabulary from 1917 until his death in 1927.
Education and career
A native of Malabon (now part of Metro Manila), Rizal, Crame studied at the Ateneo Municipal de Manila and then enrolled in the Spanish military academy from 1879 up to 1881. Upon completion of his cadetship, he was employed by the Spanish government in the Negociado de Contrebucion Territorial. He was a government official in the Administracion de Hacienda Publica when the Philippine Revolution broke out in 1896.
He rose to prominence by leading successful campaigns of the Philippine Constabulary against several criminal gangs, mostly in the provinces. The American Medal of Valor was awarded to him for helping quash a mutiny in Manila in 1921.
He was said to have declined the citation when he said, “I only did my duty.”
Recognition
On August 7, 2003, 76 years after his death, Crame’s remains were exhumed from the La Loma Cemetery in Manila and was finally given a hero’s burial at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Taguig the following day. A Brigadier General during his lifetime, Camp Crame, the place that houses the Philippine National Police, was named after him due to his contributions to the Philippine Constabulary and for his being a positive role model to the Philippine para-military police force during his time.