The PNP Applicant’s Journey (PART 1)
The PNP Applicant’s Journey (PART 1)
If
you’re reading this, then you’re probably interested in becoming a police
officer. Maybe you know someone interested in doing the same. Joining the
police force is a good way of serving your community and your country while
getting a stable career at the same time.
You should realize by now, that it’s not that easy. This series of articles can serve as a guide for your application process. We’ll discuss the steps, the requirements, what you need to do, where you can go, and some tips that can increase your chances of making it.
Background
Before we discuss how you can become a police officer, we need to step back and look back a bit at the history of the organization that you want to join. To become a police officer in the Philippines, you will have to join the Philippine National Police (PNP).
Although the PNP was officially formed in 1991, the Philippines has had
police forces for a long time. During the Spanish era, police duties were
shared by the Civil Guard and the Island Carabiniers. The Americans then
established the Philippine Constabulary (PC). Eventually, the PC was merged
with the Integrated National Police to form the present-day PNP.
The
PNP is part of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and
is administered by the National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM). Local police
units are controlled by city and municipal mayors. The DILG, on the other hand
is responsible for the training and providing equipment to police officers, as
well as handling police matters which are national in scope.
Recruitment of Police Officers
The PNP regularly recruits new police officers. The entry level for non-commissioned officers is Police Patrolman/Police Patrolwoman. New recruits are required to undergo the six-month-long Public Safety Basic Recruit Course. After that, they will have to undergo the Field Training Program, which also lasts for another six months. Before the new police officers are assigned to their real duties, they will have to undergo more training to better prepare them for their assignment in the field.
Commissioned
officers of the PNP are from the Philippine National Police Academy. Officers
also come from the Lateral Entry Program, which accepts professionals from
relevant fields like criminologists, engineers, doctors, lawyers, and other
technical fields.
How to Apply
This is the section that you are probably most interested in. These are the requirements that have been set by the PNP for those wanting
to become non-commissioned officers:
· Must be a Filipino citizen.
· Must not be younger than 21 years old and not older than 30 years old.
· The applicant must be a person of good moral conduct.
· Must have passed the following tests that are administered by the PNP or hospitals that are accredited by the NAPOLCOM:
1. Drug test
2. Psychiatric test
3. Physical test
· Must have a baccalaureate degree from a reputable and recognized institution.
· Must meet the standards that have been set by NAPOLCOM.
· Must not have been dishonorably discharged from the military.
· Must not have been dismissed from a civilian government position.
· Must have not been convicted of a crime which involves moral turpitude.
· Must meet the minimum height requirements (162 cm for males and 157 cm for females)
·
Weight must not deviate by 5 kgs from the recommended
normal weight for one’s age, height, and sex.
Additional Eligibilities
Aside from the requirements listed above, an applicant must have passed or possess any of the following exams or eligibilities:
· NAPOLCOM Examination (PNP Entrance Exam)
· Career Service Professional
· RA NO. 1080 (Board and Bar Examinations)
· RA. 6506 (Board of Criminologist)
· PD No. 907 (Civil Service Eligibility for College Honor Graduates)
· PD No. 997 (Presidential Decree giving civil service eligibility to scientific and technological specialists)
These
are the qualifications that you will need to meet if you are interested in
applying as a non-commissioned officer of the PNP. In the next section we will
discuss the requirements and documents that you will need to prepare when
applying as a non-commissioned officer and how you can become a commissioned
officer of the PNP.