Positive support for lowering the educational requirements for PNP applicants from regional PNP offices should send a clear signal to the powers that be of the need to think outside the box in terms of bolstering the ranks of the country’s police force.
PNP Director General Ricardo Marquez’s proposal to hire non-college applicants and to institute a rank of patrolman/woman in the police force had met some opposition from the private sector which expressed apprehension that these applicants may be unable to effect arrests on criminals due to their inadequate knowledge on the basics of law enforcement.
Such basics include the Miranda doctrine in which the suspects are informed of their rights during the apprehension and interrogation, and the avoidance of the use of lethal force during pursuit of potential suspects.
The strict requirements for accepting police officers into the ranks of the PNP were reflected in a recent opening of 146 slots in the PNP Central Visayas force which drew more than 1,700 applicants.
Supt. Renato Dugan, who heads the Human Resource Personnel of the Police Regional Office, said they only accepted those with a grade point average of 86 percent and above.
While accepting quality graduates is well and good, we wonder how many of those who are accepted will be willing to work the on streets and keep a watchful eye for criminal elements.
Marquez’s proposal stemmed from the actual growing reluctance of fresh PNP graduates to serve on the field since they prefer to work in air-conditioned offices than to sweat it out and hunt down criminal elements.
Not a few of them change gears and seek gainful employment elsewhere on their reasoning that since they are college degree holders, they can apply for more lucrative jobs such as personal security advisers or bodyguards of politicians and celebrities.
Then there are those who failed to meet either physical or academic requirements for police officers who land employment as security guards instead. Marquez’s proposal to lower the requirements for PNP recruits won’t compromise but rather complement the Civil Service Commission’s mandate to professionalize the ranks of the police force.
The acceptance of these non-graduates to the police force means that more warm bodies will be available to patrol the streets, but they are also required to pursue higher education if they wish not only to rise up in ranks but to pursue other gainful employment if things don’t work out.
Owing to the spate of crimes that occur not only in the streets but also in the exclusive enclave of subdivisions, Marquez’s proposal to raise police visibility gains increasing relevance.
Disclaimer: The comments uploaded on this site do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of management and owner of Cebudailynews. We reserve the right to exclude comments that we deem to be inconsistent with our editorial standards.
