PNP open to all qualified applicants

MANILA, Philippines - Everyone is welcome to join the Philippine National Police (PNP), as long as you meet the qualifications.

Senior Superintendent Reuben Theodore Sindac, PNP Public Information Office (PIO) chief, said even before legislation seeking to ban discrimination against gays and lesbians had been filed, the national police has always been open to qualified people.

“If the bill is transformed into law, we will welcome everyone provided that they will pass the qualification and will not compromise their job,” Sindac said.

Vice President Jejomar Binay, however, said the PNP has to instill discipline and policemen should show discipline through their actions.

“We cannot blame the people if they will have wrong impression of the police. A policeman who has an exploding uniform because of pot belly, to the policemen who are mulcting, abusive and who are protecting petty criminals and syndicates,” Binay said in a speech before the Philippine National Police Academy’s (PNPA’s) 35th Foundation Day in Camp Castaneda, Silang, Cavite.

“It is more saddening to read in the papers the involvement of some policemen in crimes such as kidnappings, rape and robbery-extortions,” Binay added.

Binay urged the police force to serve as models of discipline, especially in obeying the laws that they enforce, as they seek to renew their image as true enforcers of the law.

“The police should be a picture of discipline by example,” Binay said.

“These may be considered as small things, but where are we going to start?” he said.

Having discipline serves as the guide in exercising duties and responsibilities.

“If discipline is a guide towards doing your duties, this will also be your brakes from falling into temptations,” Binay said.

He said the culture of discipline is not something that is unfamiliar to Filipinos.

Binay said the values of “self-confidence, honor, (sense of) shame, good-heartedness and fellowship are the foundations of self-respect and dignity.”

“Self-confidence is a source of self-respect and honor, and being honest and doing good things even when others are not seeing you,” Binay said.

Binay told the PNPA cadets to lead the way in re-instilling the value of discipline that is crucial to national progress.

The PNP has high qualification standards for applicants, like a college degree, civil service eligibility, passed the National Police Commission (Napolcom) examination, of good moral character with no previous or pending criminal record, among others.

Male applicants must be at least 5 feet 4 inches tall while females must be at least 5 feet 2 inches in height, and must be between 21 to 30 years old.

Applicants will also have to pass series of examinations, including neuro, academic, agility and physical test.

Dinagat Rep. Arlene Bag-ao filed House Bill 110 or the Anti-Discrimination Act on Monday seeking to eliminate all forms of discrimination under the bill of rights and equal protection clause of the Constitution.

The bill stated that discrimination shall be understood to imply any distinction, exclusion, restriction or preference, which is based on any ground such as sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, whether actual or perceived, and which has the purpose or effect of nullifying or impairing the recognition, enjoyment, or exercise by all persons on equal footing of all rights and freedoms.

Under the bill, sexual orientation refers to the direction of emotional sexual attraction or conduct, which can be toward people of the same sex (homosexual) or people of both sexes (bisexual) or people of the opposite sex (heterosexual).

A person cannot be refused admission or expelled from educational and medical institutions or denied access to the use of establishments, facilities, utilities or services, including housing, based on his or her sexual orientation, the bill said. – With Jose Rodel Clapano