PNP eyeing 1:489 police-to-population ratio by 2022

MANILA, Philippines -  The Philippine National Police (PNP) aims to achieve a police-to-population ratio of 1:489 in the next five years, an official of the PNP Directorate for Personnel and Records Management (DPRM) said yesterday.

Supt. Juvenal Barbosa, assistant chief of the recruitment and selection division, said the current police to population ratio is at 1:572 while the national standard is 1:500. Based on projections, by year 2022, the ratio will be 1:489.

The National Police Commission (Napolcom) recently approved the recruitment of 14,484 police officers. Barbosa said the regular recruitment program is expected to boost the manpower and strength of the police force. There are around 175,000 officers and personnel in the PNP.

Around 10,000 policemen would be recruited under the regular recruitment quota and 4,484 under attrition recruitment.

Barbosa said the padrino system has been eliminated from the police force and law enforcers are chosen based on their qualifications.

“We hire based on merit and fitness. They should pass the sequential stages of the recruitment program before they will be appointed as new police officers,” Barbosa said in a press briefing in Camp Crame.

Among these are physical agility tests where applicants are required to undergo physical training. Candidates also have to pass neuropsychiatry, medical and drug tests.

Barbosa said those with tattoos are immediately disqualified from entering the PNP.

“That is the policy of the Health Service,” he said.

Applicants with physical deformities especially those which could affect muscle movement also face disqualification. Applicants who undergo training for one year would receive a monthly salary mandated by the government.

A policeman entering the service as a Police Officer 1 will receive a monthly base pay of P17,000 excluding allowances.