Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH  CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ________ 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Introduced by Representative MARLYN L. PRIMICIAS-AGABAS 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The proposed bill seeks to amend Section 58 of Republic Act 8551, otherwise 
known as the "Philippine National Police Reform and Reorganization Act of 1998," in 
order to increase the quota requirement for female PNP officers, and to appropriate funds 
for the purpose. 
In the complexity of society and human interactions, it is inescapable that women 
and children, which are usually the more vulnerable sectors of our society, would be 
involved in assorted uncompromising situations requiring police interventions. These 
persons require sensitive handling which female police officers, because of their maternal 
instincts, can provide generally far better than their male counterparts.  
To cater to the special needs of women and children, particularly in relation to 
crimes against chastity, sexual harassment and other abuses, Republic Act 8551 of 1998 
required the establishment of the Women's Desk and Child Protection in all police stations. 
The same law also mandated the recruitment quota for women to ten percent (10%). But 
this was twenty-five years ago. Over the years, Philippine population has steadily increased 
and, at present, the Philippine population has significantly ballooned as compared to 
twenty-five years ago. And so, on the premise that the higher the population, the bigger the 
risk for women and children to be involved in undesirable situations requiring police 
actions, it is easy to assume that statistically more and more crimes are being committed 
against women and children; and that it is now opportune to increase the number of female 
personnel of the PNP. The contemplated amendment is a timely response to this need, as it 
increases the recruitment quota for female police officers from ten percent (10%) to fifteen 
percent (15%)—which is reasonable under extant circumstances.  
Moreover, we are constrained to rethink this administrative reform in the wake of 
reported abuses perpetrated by male PNP officers against women and children while in 
their custody. To preclude these abuses from happening, it should be the policy of the State 
that only female police officers should have direct and immediate custody of women and 
July 2, 2025
6:37 pm
1180


children brought to the police stations. There is an urgent need to strengthen women and 
child protection at the police precincts or other frontline offices; and this proposed bill, 
which calls for the increase in the number of women in the police force and the 
appropriation of funds for the purpose, is an important step toward this end.  
 
 
 
 
Given the foregoing, the passage of the proposed bill is earnestly sought. 
 
 
 
MARLYN L. PRIMICIAS-AGABAS 
6th District, Pangasinan 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH  CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO.______ 
Introduced by Representative MARLYN L. PRIMICIAS-AGABAS 
 
Section 1. Within the next five (5) years, the PNP shall reserve fifteen percent (15%) 
of its annual recruitment training and education quota for women; Provided, That 
the recruitment quota for women shall be increased to twenty percent (20%) five (5) 
years thereafter. 
Section 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 three (3) newspapers 
of general circulation. 
Section 3. The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act is hereby 
authorized to be appropriated in the General Appropriations Act of the year following 
its enactment into law and thereafter. 
Section 4. All laws, presidential decrees, letters of instructions, executive orders, rules 
and regulations insofar as they are inconsistent with this Act, are hereby repealed or 
amended, as the case may be. 
Section 5. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official 
Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
Approved, 
1180