8-hour duty for cops eyed

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police is planning to implement an eight-hour shift from the current 12 hours to give PNP personnel enough time to rest and have more quality time with their families.

At a press briefing yesterday, PNP chief Gen. Camilo Cascolan said the reduced work hours would have a significant impact on the health and well-being of the 209,000-strong police force.

Cascolan said to promote productivity, the daily duties of policemen should be reduced to eight hours.

“The best way for them to perform is to have a good schedule, especially when it comes to beat patrols,” Cascolan told reporters.

He said the eight-hour shift could be applied in the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO), which has over 27,000 personnel.

“NCRPO personnel can do eight hours duty and 16 hours off,” Cascolan said.

He said police commanders have the option to maintain the current 12-hour shift but with an option to extend the rest period of personnel to 24 hours from the current 16 hours.

The PNP chief admitted that there are instances when police officers have to stay on duty beyond eight hours, especially for police stations that lack personnel.

Cascolan said policemen may conduct beat patrols for eight hours and an additional four hours for administrative duties such as documentation of suspected criminals arrested in police operations. Afterwards, they can rest for one day.

Cascolan is known within the PNP as an official who cares for his troops.

He implemented the eight-hour shift when he headed the NCRPO in 2018.

He was removed from his post after a month and transferred to the Civil Security Group by former PNP chief Oscar Albayalde.

Sources said the transfer was brought by policy differences between Cascolan and Albayalde.