He worked to combat the New People's Army, a communist insurgent group in the Philippines, and was stationed in Southern Luzon for four years.

From 1992 to 1993, he served in the international peacekeeping mission of the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia, as part of the Philippine contingent.

[4] In 2000, Carlos joined as one of its pioneers the newly established Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, serving as its deputy intelligence chief.

He would use this experience and return to the Philippine National Police as part of the now defunct Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force.

[1][3] On May 8, 2021, Carlos was promoted to Chief of Directorial Staff, becoming part of the Philippine National Police Command Group.