FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
Second Regular Session 
) 
'12 
11AY -8 !' 2 :07 
SENATE 
S.B. No. 3184 
Introduced by SENATOR GREGORIO B. HONASAN II 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Article 7 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that "All are equal before 
the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law. All are 
entitled to equal protection against any discrimination in violation of this Declaration and 
against any incitement to such discrimination." 
Section 1, Article 23 of the UDHR further states "Everyone has the right to work, to free 
choice of employment, to just and favorable conditions of work and to protection against 
unemployment. " 
Section 1, Article XIII of Social Justice and Human Rights in the Philippine Constitution 
mandates Congress "to give highest priority to the enactment of measures that protect 
and enhance the right of all the people to human dignity, reduce social, economic, and 
political inequalities, and remove cultural inequities . .. " 
Heightism or discrimination based on height is a reality today that has been widely 
practiced among law enforcement agencies and armed forces worldwide even if 
Napoleon's "altitude problem" was not a hindrance to his performance as a general or to 
Asians who have proven their worth in war and peace though they may be shorter than 
their Western counterparts. Still, we unwittingly practice discrimination against our own. 
Although measures are being taken to correct the situation, heightism is still practiced in 
the Philippine National Police to the disadvantage particularly of minority or indigenous 
persons seeking employment who may have genetic make-ups different from other 
Filipinos. 
Height discrimination unnecessarily limits quality choice while promoting 
social prejudice. 
Sociological stUdies point to the conclusion that this institutional 
prejudice falls under ethnic or racial prejudice. 
Physical impairment may be a 
consideration in tasks requiring rugged physical activity but not all who are short are 
physically, much less intellectually, impaired. 
This Act seeks the REPEAL OF THE HEIGHT REQUIREMENT FOR APPLICANTS TO 
THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL POLICE based on the principle that all people have equal 
rights to be employed unhampered by prejudices that have nothing to do with one's 
merit or competence to do the work. 
In view of the foregoing, the enactment of this bill into law is arn stly sought. 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
Second Regular Session 
) 
'12 
t1AY -8 P 2 :07 
SENATE 
S.B. No. 3184 
Introduced by SENATOR GREGORIO B. HONASAN II 
AN ACT 
REPEALING THE HEIGHT REQUIREMENT FOR APPLICANTS TO THE PHILIPPINE 
NATIONAL POLICE (PNP) 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines 
in Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Police Height Equality 
Actof2012" 
SEC. 2. 
Section 30 (h) of Republic Act No. 6975, otherwise known as the 
"Department of the Interior and Local Government Act of 1990", as amended by 
Republic Act No. 8551, otherwise known as the "Philippine National Police Reform and 
Reorganization Act of 1998 which provides that: 
"h) Must be at least one meter and sixty-two centimeters (1.62 m.) in 
height for male and one meter and fifty-seven centimeters (1.57 m.) 
for female" 
is hereby repealed. 
SEC. 3. All laws, decrees, rules and regulations or parts thereof inconsistent 
with this Act are hereby repealed or amended accordingly 
SEC. 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval. 
Approved, 
.!