Solon seeks to expand eligibility for lateral entry in the PNP
Solon seeks to expand eligibility for lateral entry in the PNP
What is a Lateral Entry Program in the PNP?
According to NAPOLCOM
Memorandum Circular No. 2018-002, Lateral Entry is a provision of law that allows the
appointment of Police Commissioned Officers (PCOs) to fill-up the vacancies for
the LINE and TECHNICAL service positions in the PNP. It excludes the lateral
entry of graduates of PNPA.
When we say line service position it refers to designations/positions
performing essential and purely police functions, i.e. law enforcement, crime
prevention and security operations, intelligence, investigation, training, and
police community relations. It also includes positions in police precincts,
stations, CPOs/PPOs, operating units of PROs, and the regional offices and
operating divisions of the National Support Units.
Technical service positions, on the other hand,
refer to positions requiring highly technical qualifications in the PNP
technical services, such as dentist, optometrists, nurses, engineers, and graduates
of forensic sciences, licensed criminologists, doctors of medicine, members of
the Bar, and chaplains and among others.
Under Section 33 of Republic Act No. 6975, or the Department
of Interior and Local Government Act of 1990, only police non-commissioned
officers (Patrolman to Police Executive
Master Sergeant) who are licensed criminologists may be appointed to the
rank of Police Lieutenant to fill up the vacancies after promotions from the ranks
are completed.
This leaves out many non-commissioned
officers and has led to a shortage of Police Lieutenants, which cannot be
filled-up by the yearly graduates of the Philippine National Police Academy
(PNPA) and by the promotion of Police Executive Master Sergeants to Police
Lieutenant.
Now, Camiquin District Representative Xavier
Jesus D. Romualdo filed House
Bill No. 7148 or An Act Amending Section 33 of Republic Act No.
6975 to Expand the Eligibility for Lateral Entry into the Philippine National
Police.
In his explanatory note, he noted that “the shortage is expected to grow with continuous
recruitment of non-commissioned officers into the PNP. The PNP also requires
AERONAUTICAL or AIRCRAFT ENGINEERS and AIRCRAFT PILOTS in its ranks in order
for it to effectively carry out its mandate. If enacted into law this measures
will help the PNP maintain an effective, competent, and efficient police force.
”
The said bill seeks to amend Section 33 of RA
No. 6975 in order to allow non-commissioned officers and others who are
professional license holders or have CAREER SERVICE PROFESSIONAL ELIGIBILITY to
become Police Lieutenants and allow for the lateral entry of aircraft engineers
and pilots into the PNP as Police Lieutenants and Police Captains, respectively.
SOURCE:
http://www.congress.gov.ph/legisdocs/basic_18/HB07148