The Senate on Monday unanimously approved a proposed bill seeking to institutionalize organizational reforms to the Philippine National Police (PNP).
With 23 affirmative votes, no negative votes, and zero abstention, senators passed on third and final reading proposed Senate Bill No. 2249 or the amendment to the PNP Reform and Reorganization Act of 1998.
Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, the sponsor of the bill, lauded the passage of the measure which will implement the “much-needed” changes in the police force.
“After all these years, finally, the PNP organizational reforms we sought to introduce are being materialized. They’re beginning to see the light of day. I hope we can all welcome that day together when this measure is passed into law soon enough,” dela Rosa said in his speech.
SB 2249 amends Republic Act 6975 or the Department of Interior and Local Government Act of 1990 as well as Republic Act 8551 or the PNP Reform and Reorganization Act of 1998.
It is one of the priority legislations of the Marcos administration.
Under the proposed bill, the following offices created by the National Police Commission (Napolcom) will be institutionalized: Directorial Staff, Area Police Command, Special Offices, and strengthened National Administrative and Operational Support Units.
It will also address the violence and killing of local government officials by transferring the power to designate chiefs of police from mayors and governors to the PNP chief.
Further, the proposed measure concurrently upholds the principle of local autonomy by ensuring that local government units will retain operational supervision and control over PNP units within their purview once the Chief of Police has been nominated by the PNP chief.
It likewise seeks to elevate the status and treatment of the PNP Academy and its cadets and targets to align the compulsory age of retirement for the PNP with the Armed Forces of the Philippines by setting it at 57 years old. —LDF, GMA Integrated News
