168 licensed professionals join PNP

MANILA, Philippines — One hundred sixty-eight licensed professionals have joined the Philippine National Police (PNP) as commissioned officers.

PNP chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar on Thursday administered the oath-taking and turnover ceremony of the new officers who were hired under the police force’s lateral entry program.

Eleazar lauded the new police officers who have chosen a career in public service.

“From among hundreds of applicants who tried to take their chance, PNP has chosen you as the best among the rest, because our community deserves nothing but the best police service from us,” he said in a statement.

The newly inducted officers include four lawyers and two medical doctors who were appointed to the rank of police captain with a monthly salary of P56,582 and allowances.

Also included in the roster are other medical professionals such as dentists, optometrists, psychologists, nurses, pharmacists, medical technologists, nutritionists and radiologic technologists.

Eleazar said they also hired chemists, engineers, forensic criminologists, architects and information technology officers.

They were appointed to the rank of lieutenant and will receive P49,528 in monthly salary as well as allowances and other benefits.

The officers will be assigned to selected police regional offices and national operational support units.

They were turned over to the PNP Directorate for Human Resource and Doctrine Development for the mandatory officers’ basic course and field training program.