REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No, _5748

Introduced by MAGDALO Party-List Representative
HON. MANUEL DG. CABOCHAN IIL

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Under Republic Act. No. 8551, or the Philippine National Police Reform and Reorganization
Act of 1998, only college graduates are allowed to enter the police force and be part of the
PNP organization. This particular provision presents downsides on the pool of applicants that
could be recruited and on the force organization of the PNP. Since only college graduates are
qualified to join the police force, many undergraduate applicants are stripped of the
opportunity to become part of the organization and be able to serve and protect his
countrymen. A considerable section of the population is no longer eligible, therefore,
affecting the small number of applicants that could be recruited.

The existing police force is not sufficient to cover all functions. A whole lot of personnel are
needed, in particular, for maneuver units. Then, it would be a favorable solution to allow
recruitment of undergraduate applicants. Moreover, this would level the playing field for
individuals who are underprivileged and cannot afford to go to college

Maneuver units are tactical in nature. Usually, such units are engaged in internal security
operations, crowd control and disaster response. Having 72 collegiate units, along with
necessary rigorous training upon recruitment, would already be enough to acquire the basic
competencies needed,

This bill seeks to amend Section 14 and 15 of RA 8551 and lower the educational
requirement for police applicants. This intends to solve the problems of having insufficient
police force, and also, making the recruitment process for police officers and non-officers to
be more inclusive.

In view of the foregoing, approval of this measure is earnestly sought.

MANUEL DGJCABOCHAN Ill
Representative
Magdalo Para Sa Pilipino Party-List


REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No, 5746

Introduced by MAGDALO Party-List Representative
HON. MANUEL DG. CABOCHAN IL

AN ACT
AMENDING THE EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENT FOR POLICE APPLICANTS
AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTION 14 AND 15 OF RA 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:

“Section 14. Section 30 of Republic Act No. 6975 is hereby amended to read as
follows:

Section 30. General Qualifications for Appointment — No person shall be

appointed as officer or member of the PNP unless he or she possess the

following minimum qualifications:

Xxx

(d) Must possess a formal baccalaureate degree [from a recognized institution
of learning] FOR APPOINTMENT AS OFFICER AND NON-
OFFICER EXCEPT THOSE WHO WILL BE ASSIGNED AT
MANEUVER UNITS WHO MUST HAVE FINISHED AT LEAST
SECOND YEAR COLLEGE OR THE EQUIVALENT OF
SEVENTY-TWO (72) COLLEGIATE UNITS. PROVIDED, THAT
WHEN THEY FINISHED A BACCALAUREATE DEGREE, THEY
MAY HAVE THE OPTION TO TRANSFER TO OTHER UNITS;

XXX,
SEC. 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, [and educational] 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 twenty (20) 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, furthermore, That only
applicants who have finished second year college or have earned at least seventy-two

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(72) collegiate units leading to a bachelor's degree shall be eligible for appointment:
Provided, furthermore, That anybody who will enter the service without a
baccalaureate degree shall be given a maximum of four (4) years to obtain the
required educational qualification:] Provided, finally, That a waiver for height
requirement shall be automatically granted to applicants belonging to the cultural
communities.”

SEC. 3. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — The National Police Commission
and the Philippine National Police shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for
the effective implementation of this Act.

SEC. 4. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and
regulations, and other issuances or parts thereof which are inconsistent with this act are
hereby repealed accordingly.

SEC. 5. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of national circulation.

Approved,