Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO._ 1996

Introduced by HON. AURORA ENERIO-CERILLES

EXPLANATORY NOTE

It is stated in the Constitution that the state shall pursue the maintenance of peace and
order, the protection of life, liberty and property, and the promotion of the general
welfare or the common good. Only when peace and order, security, and a life of dignity
are established and maintained, will political stability and economic prosperity become
attainable and the people truly enjoy the “blessings of independence and democracy”.
The state shall establish and maintain one police force which shall be national in scope
and civilian in character, to be administered and controlled by a national police
commission.

Following the mandate of the Constitution, a National Police force was organized in
December 1990. The Philippine National Police was envisioned to be a community and
service-oriented agency. Their mission is to enforce law, prevent and control crimes,
maintain peace and order and ensure public safety. They vowed to serve and protect the
nation through professional, dynamic and highly motivated working partnership with a
responsive community towards the attainment of a safe place to live, work, invest, and do
business with

The important role of the Police force starts in recruitment. Unfortunately, it was
discovered that there was massive cheating in the entrance examination and promotional
exams that took place just recently. It is disheartening to know that even those who aspire
to protect life, liberty, and property are the ones involved in a fraudulent act just to enter
the Police force.

A strict selection process must be done to ensure that only the best, good and honorable
‘ones be part of the force. With the recent scandal in the recruitment process, it is high
time that the pre-qualifying exams to the PNP which is civilian in character shall be
professionalized.

Through this process, the people are assured that all Police officers are competent
enforcers of the law deserving of the respect and admiration of the Filipino people.
Hence, this bill seeks to modify the recruitment and selection process by amending
certain provisions of RA 8551 or the Philippine National Police Reform and
Reorganization Act of 1998,

The enactment of this bill is earnestly sought.

AURORA ENERIO-CERILLES


Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO._ L996

Introduced by HON. AURORA ENERIO-CERILLES

AN ACT PROFESSIONALIZING THE REC! ‘MENT AND SELECTION
PROCESS AND THE PROMOTION SYSTEM IN THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL
POLICE, AMENDING CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF R.A. 8551, AND FOR
OTHER PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Section 14 of Republic Act No. 8551 is hereby amended to read as follows:

“SEC. 30, General Qualifications for Appointment. — No person shall be
appointed as officer or member of the PNP unless he or she possesses the
following minimum qualifications:

“a) A citizen of the Philippines;
“b) A person of good moral CHARACTER;

“c) MUST BE A GRADUATE OF BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN
CRIMINOLOGY;

“d) MUST HAVE PASSED THE LICENSURE EXAMINATION FOR
CRIMINOLOGY;

“e) Must be eligible in accordance with the standards set by the Commission;

“f) Must not have been dishonorably discharged from military employment or
dismissed for cause from any civilian position in the Government;

“g) Must not have been convicted by final judgment of an offense or crime
involving moral turpitude;

“h) Must be at least one meter and sixty-two centimeters (1.62 m.) OR FIVE
FEET AND FOUR INCHES (5 ft. 4inches) in height for male and one meter
and fifty-seven centimeters (1.57 m.) OR FIVE FEET AND TWO INCHES (5
ft. 2inches) for female; and

“i) For a new applicant, must not be less than EIGHTEEN (18) nor more than
thirty (30) years of age: except for the last qualification, the above-cnumerated
qualifications shall be continuing in character and an absence of any one of them
at any given time shall be a ground for separation or retirement from the service:
PROVIDED, THAT PNP MEMBERS WHO ARE ALREADY IN THE
SERVICE UPON THE EFFECTIVITY OF THIS ACT SHALL BE
EXEMPTED FROM THE EDUCATIONAL AND LICENSURE
REQUIREMENTS.


“For the purpose of determining compliance with the requirements on physical
and mental health, as well as the non-use of prohibited drugs, the PNP by itself or
through a NAPOLCOM| accredited government hospital shall conduct regular
psychiatric, psychological drug and physical tests randomly and without notice.

“After the lapse of the time period for the satisfaction of a specific requirement,
current members of the PNP who will fail to satisfy any of the requirements
enumerated under this Section shall be separated from the service if they are
below fifty (50) years of age and have served in Government for less than twenty
(20) years or retired if they are from the age of fifty (50) and above and have
served the Government for at least twenty (20) years without prejudice in either
case to the payment of benefits they may be entitled to under existing laws.”

SECTION 2. Section 15 of Republic Act No. 8551 is hereby amended to read as
follows:

“Section 15. Waivers for Initial Appointments to the PNP. - The age, height, and
Weight requirements for initial appointment to the PNP may be waived only when
the number of qualified applicants fall below the minimum annual quota:
Provided, That an applicant shall not be below EIGHTEEN (18) nor over thirty-
five (35) years of age: Provided, further, That any applicant not meeting the
weight requirement shall be given reasonable time but not exceeding six (6)
months within which to comply with the said requirement: Provided, finally, That
a waiver for height requirement shall be automatically granted to applicants
belonging to the cultural communities AS ATTESTED BY THE NATIONAL,
COMMISSION ON INDIGENOUS PEOPLES.”

SECTION 3. Section 38 of Republic Act No. 8551 is hereby amended to read as
follows:

“Section 38. Promotions. — (a) A uniformed member of the PNP shall not be
eligible for promotion to a higher position or rank unless he has successfully
passed the corresponding promotional examination given by the Commission, or
the Bar, or the corresponding board examinations for technical services and other
professions, has satisfactorily completed the appropriate and accredited course in
the PNPA or equivalent training institutions, and has satisfactorily passed the
required psychiatric/psychological and drug tests. In addition, no uniformed
member of the PNP shall be eligible for promotion during the pendency of his or
her administrative and/or criminal case or unless he or she has been cleared by the
People's Law Enforcement Board (PLEB), and the Office of the Ombudsman of
any complaints proffered against him or her, if any, AND MUST HAVE
RECEIVED A SATISFACTORY PERFORMANCE RATING DURING
THE LAST TWO SUCCESSIVE ANNUAL RATING PERIODS IN THE
FIELD OR AREA WHERE HE WAS LAST ASSIGNED. FINALLY, THE
MINIMUM YEARS OF SERVICE REQUIRED FOR A UNIFORMED
MEMBER OF THE PNP TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR PROMOTION TO THE
NEXT HIGHER RANK IS HEREBY PRESCRIBED AS FOLLOWS:

Rank Years of Service

Police Officer 1 Three (3) years

Police Officer 2 “Two (2) years

Police Officer 3 ‘Two (2) years |
Supervising Police Officer 1 ‘Three (3) years

Supervising Police Officer 2 | Three (3) years

Supervising Police Officer 3 | Three (3) years

‘Supervising Police Officer 4 | Three (3) years

Inspector



(b) Any uniformed member of the PNP who has exhibited acts of conspicuous
courage and gallantry at the risk of his/her life above and beyond the calll of duty,
shall be promoted to the next higher rank: Provided, That such acts shall be
validated by the Commission based on established criteria.”

SECTION 4. Separability Clause. — If for any reason any provision of this act is declared
to be unconstitutional or invalid, the other sections or provisions thereof which are not
affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.

SECTION 5. Repealing Clause — All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and
regulations in other issuances or parts thereof which are inconsistent with this Act are
hereby repealed or amended accordingly.

SECTION 6. Effectivity Clause. — This Act shall take effect after its complete
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved.