Acorda oversaw the Pangasinan municipal police stations in Sual, Sison, Bolinao, and Balungao, which are all in the Ilocos area.

He was employed by Muslim Mindanao's Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Basilan as an intelligence and operations officer.

Before being named the country's top law enforcement official, he was in charge of the PNP's Directorate for Intelligence.

[2] Acorda has held directorial positions in UN missions and overseen law enforcement officers from foreign countries, and he is also a former member of the United Nations Blue Helmets.

[1] Acorda attended the Philippine Christian University where he studied for his master's degree in management.