Newly graduates of the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) should be assigned in far-flung communities and other areas in the provinces instead of having the first taste of being a police officer in the comfort of urban areas.

Citing his own experience, PNP chief Gen. Camilo Pancratius Cascolan said there are a lot of things to be learned in the provinces as a police officer compared to having first assignments in cities.

“We hope that you will be assigned not in NCR (National Capital Region), not in cities. You should be outside the cities for you to learn. That’s  how I really learned,” said Cascolan.

“I have been a cadet myself and it's really very, very hard most especially when you graduate and be assigned in far-flung areas but is one of the best training sites, the training requirement that each and everyone of us officers need,” he added.

When assigned to the provinces, Cascolan said the new PNPA graduates will be able to practice what they first learned in the Academy and eventually adjust based on their own experience on the ground.

“It was really hard in the field. But I have no boss, I have no buddy, no mentor at all. I have to do my thing alone but I was able to do it right,” said Cascolan.

PNPA graduates have the option to enter the PNP, the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, and the Bureau of Fire Protection. Most of the PNPA graduates, however, choose the PNP.

Last year, the PNP formally assumed its full jurisdiction to manage and control the PNPA under Republic Act No. 11279 that aims to achieve the goals of a highly efficient and competent police force.

Cascolan said PNPA graduates who would enter the PNP should no longer take the basic officers’ course since this was already taught in the Academy. Instead, he said they should be taking advanced officers' courses within the five years in the service.

He said only the lateral entrants should be taking the Officers' Basic Course.