House OKs bill lowering height requirement for cops

MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives has passed a measure seeking to lower the minimum height requirement for police officers.

In session on Tuesday night, a total of 203 lawmakers approved on third and final reading House Bill 8261 that revises the height requirement for applicants in the Philippine National Police and other agencies under the Department of the Interior and Local Government.

Nobody voted against the measure while six congressmen abstained.

The measure proposed the lowering of the minimum height from 5’4” to 5’2” for male police officers, and from 5’2” to 5’ for females.

The same adjustment was sought for applicants in the Bureaus of Fire Protection, Jail Management and Penology and Corrections.

The bill also sought the removal of existing waiver of height requirement for applicants from the cultural communities and indigenous peoples, citing abuses in implementation.

The measure set the height requirement for applicants at 5’ for males and 4’8” for females.

The bill provided for exemptions for applicants in the Philippine National Police Academy based on the request of PNPA acting director Brig. Gen. Rhoderick Armamento.

The bill was approved by the House committee on public order and safety last month.

Sulu Rep. Samier Tan, who chaired the subcommittee that deliberated on the measure, said lowering the height requirement “would enable these agencies to employ the best and highly qualified applicants for positions requiring technical skills.”