és

ty
7? RECEIVED
Republic of the Philippines { ~ gyGEB_2 0 2020
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES i
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
House Bi no, 8358

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE ANN K. HOFER

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to increase the recruitment quota requirement of female Philippine
National Police (PNP) Officers who shall serve in women’s desks from the current ten
percent (10%) to at least fifteen percent (15%) within the next five years, to at least twenty
percent (20%) thereafter.

According to the National Center for Women & Policing, a U.S.-based organization,
female police officers utilize a style of policing that relies less on physical force and more on
communication skills that defuse potentially violent situations. Female police officers are
therefore much less likely to be involved in occurrences of police brutality, and are also much
more likely to effectively respond to police calls regarding violence against women.

This is confirmed by a study conducted by professors from the University of Virginia
and University of Zurich, where the authors found that increasing female representation in the
police force can both increase reporting of violent crimes against women and decrease
domestic violence. This is because female police officers were more likely to take domestic
violence crimes seriously and intervene. Female victims also feel more comfortable reporting
a crime, whether domestic violence or another form of violence or sexual assault, to female
police officers than to male police officers. Thus, increasing the number of female police
officers would be an effective strategy for the PNP to better deliver its function of
administering and attending to cases involving crimes against chastity, sexual harassment,
abuses committed against women and children, and other similar offenses.

In view of the foregoing reasons, immediate approval of this measure is earnestly

sought. ey

K. HOFER
Representative
2™ District, Zamboanga Sibugay


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 6358

Introduced by: REP. ANN K. HOFER

AN ACT
INCREASING THE RECRUITMENT QUOTA REQUIREMENT OF
FEMALE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL POLICE (PNP) OFFICERS,
AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTION 58 OF REPUBLIC ACT
8551, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE “PHILIPPINE NATIONAL
POLICE REFORM AND REORGANIZATION ACT OF 1996”

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

SECTION 1. Section 58 of Republic Act No. 8551, otherwise known as the
‘Philippine National Police Reform and Organization Act of 1998’, is hereby amended to
read as follows:

“Section 58. Prioritization of Women for Recruitment. — Within the
next five (5) years, the PNP shall prioritize the recruitment and training of
women who shall serve in the women’s desk. Pursuant to this requirement, the
PNP shall reserve at least [ten] fifteen percent [(49%)] (15%) of its annual
recruitment, training, and education quota for women: Provided, That the
recruitment quota for women shall be increased to at least twenty percent
(20%) thereafter.”

SEC. 2. The National Police Commission in coordination with the Philippine
National Police and the Department of the Interior and Local Government shall promulgate
rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act. Such rules and regulations
shall take effect upon their publication in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

SEC 3. All laws, decrees, letters of instruction, executive orders, rules and regulations
and other issuances or parts thereof, inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, are hereby
repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 4. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official
Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,