The Philippine National Police (PNP) is eyeing a visit in every college and university across the country—not to discourage students from joining rallies but to recruit them to join the police service.

PNP chief Gen. Camilo Pancratius Cascolan said the move is part of the effort to recruit the best and the brightest among the next breed of policemen in the country, citing that the salaries of policemen are now competitive with private companies.

“We are going to colleges and universities talking to them so that we will come up with recruits that are best for the PNP,” said Cascolan.

Over the years, the PNP has been re-strategizing the recruitment of its personnel amid the perennial problem of the involvement of rookie policemen to illegal activities that include extortion and various crimes.

During the time of PNP chief Raul Bacalzo, the recruitment was shifted from the ‘muscle to brains’ in a bid to encourage more smart students to join the police force.

By muscle, then PNP chief Bacalzo said they would avail more slots for academic achievers rather than those who are entering the police service because of easily hurdling past the physical examinations.

The move, however, failed as smart students would prefer working in private companies due to low monthly salary and perks being offered for policemen.

Former PNP chief Alan Purisima had expressed strong preference for recruits who graduated with an education degree rather than criminology, as he noted that the PNP needs more recruits who have a strong foundation on character and the ability to teach good manners and right conduct.

 But with the competitive salary and benefits for the PNP, Cascolan expressed confidence that they would be able to recruit academically prepared college graduates.