716 show up on Day 1 of PNPA exam

CEBU, Philippines —  A total of 716 examinees joined the first of the two-day Philippine National Police Academy Cadet Admission Test (PNPACAT) yesterday at the University of Cebu Banilad Campus.

In promoting the test, officials from the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO), along with graduating cadets from Cebu, cited how their lives had changed for the better after passing the exam and eventually graduating from the academy.

According to Police Lieutenant Colonel Benigno Balisis, chief examiner in Cebu, the examination consists of 200 questions that must be finished within three hours. Examinees will be assigned to a particular exam schedule set from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Balisis added that among their objectives for this year's admission test is to maintain the health protocols during the exam, preserve the integrity of examination, and ensure the security of the proctors.

Police Lieutenant Colonel Wilbert Parilla, CCPO deputy director for operations, said that those who will pass the qualifying exam will undergo physical and mental screening before moving on to the next stage, which is the training.

The qualified cadets will become full scholars of the government and will enjoy privileges that include free lodging and food with at least P38,000 in monthly allowances.

“Usa ni ka dakong oportunidad para sa atoang kabatan-onan nga maka-eskwela ka og libre and, at the same time, pagkahuman sa imoha nga graduation mahimo ka nga opisyal sa PNP, sa BFP, ug sa BJMP. No need nga mang-apply pa ka because you will become automatically an officer,” he said.

Parilla encouraged applicants to do their best since the PNPACAT does not require a passing grade. Instead, the candidates will be ranked based on their scores. Only the top 1,000 from this year's 26,200 examinees coming from around the country will be admitted for training.

“For the PNPA, this is the saying that ‘many are called but few are chosen,’ and among those chosen few, only the best will remain,” Parilla said.

The PNPA opened its pre-qualification process for the 2021 examination through online applications which already closed last Feb. 28.

The requirements are that a candidate must be a Filipino citizenship, age 18 to 22, who graduated from senior high school or college.  Males should at least be 5’4” tall while females should be at least 5’2”.

Applicants who are able to show proof that they graduated with Latin honors or highest honors will be exempted from the examination.

Applicants are also advised to bring a pencil, sharpeners, identification cards, a duly accomplished application form, certificate of consent, and medical certificates when they visit the examination venue.

Balisis said that they will also entertain walk-in applicants as possible replacements for those who are scheduled to take the examination but fail to show up.

“However, if you think you are qualified at hindi ka nakapag-apply online, you try your luck. (Comply with) exam requirements, pumunta kayo sa exam venue, at kung may mag-absent, ang testpaper na naka-assign sa kanya, ipu-pull out natin and we will give to those walk-in applicants on a first come, first served basis,” said Balisis.  — JMD (FREEMAN)