JAN.

20, 2012 DATE

NR # 2654B
REF. NO.

Congressional districts to get one cadet slot each at the Philippine National Police Academy
Lawmakers have filed a bill mandating the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) to reserve a slot for one cadet each for every congressional district in the country every year to comprise its incoming class. Reps. Rufus Rodriguez (2nd District, Cagayan de Oro) and Maximo Rodriguez, Jr. (Party-list, Abante Mindanao) filed House Bill 5634, which provides a chance for aspiring cadets even from far-flung areas to fulfill dreams of becoming part of the ranks of the three uniformed bureaus of the Department of Interior and Local government (DILG), namely the Philippine National Police (PNP), the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP). Majority of the cadets entering the PNPA come from bigger cities and provinces. It is high time that we ensure a more balanced composition of every class that emanates from the PNPA, Rodriguez said. The measure mandates the PNPA to select one cadet each from every congressional district every year in order to ensure that every class that graduates from the time of the effectivity of the measure is comprised of cadets from all over the country. The PNPA is the training ground of cadets to develop public safety service officers imbued with professional competence, management leadership skills, sound moral character, and wholesome personality befitting that of a professional law enforcer with a heart based on strong democratic ideals, concepts and processes practiced as a way of life through academic freedom, the Honor System, and firm respect for authority and human rights, Rodriguez said. This is where the Philippine National Police, the Bureau of Fire Protection and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology recruit their personnel and are appointed as Police, Fire and Jail Inspectors, Rodriguez added. Rodriguez said the PNPA aims to provide comprehensive education and training programs to transform cadets into God-center, community-responsive public safety officers trusted and respected by the people. It cannot be denied that among Filipinos, trust is more prevalent among those coming from the same province, city or legislative district, Rodriguez said. It is only apt that the PNPA ensure the membership of their ranks are equally distributed and come from all areas of the country.

JAN. 20, 2012 DATE

NR # 2654B
REF. NO.

To be able to enter the PNPA, one has to be a natural born Filipino citizen, of good moral character, single and with no parental and financial obligation to anybody, 17 to 21 years old at the time of admission, among others. Under the bill, each cadet will still have to pass and comply with all the current admission requirements of the PNPA. Only upon determination that there is no qualified applicant from a certain legislative district will said slot be given to another qualified applicant respective of the domicile, Rodriguez said. (30) jsc