A total of 157 technical professionals, including those in the legal, medical and information technology (IT) professions, joined the Philippine National Police (PNP) in its continuous recruitment to improve the police service and law enforcement functions.
PNP chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin, Jr. said all those who took their oath as PNP members will be turned over o the Directorate for Human Resource and Doctrine Development (DHRDD) to undergo the mandatory Officers' Basic Course and Field Training Program before reporting to their respective unit assignments.
“With the ever-growing demand and complexities of public safety and law enforcement services, the PNP welcomes every opportunity to recruit professionals into the service from various fields such as dentists, optometrists, engineers, and graduates of forensic sciences, licensed criminologists, doctors of medicine, and members of the bar, among others," said Azurin.
Among those who entered the PNP service were 69 layers, eight physicians and one pastor who were all appointed to the initial rank of Police Captain with basic monthly salary of P56,582.00
The rest of the newly-appointed PNP officers composed of a dentist, 29 nurses, two nutritionist/dietician, one optometrist, 34 IT officers, three engineers, six chemists, and three registered criminologists were appointed to the initial rank of Police Lieutenant with basic monthly salary of P49,528.00 with allowances and other cash and non-cash benefits.
"The newly-recruited technical professionals are crucial in strengthening the police organization’s human resource and technical capabilities in serving the people and address various challenges in their campaign against criminality, illegal drugs violent extremism, lawlessness, terrorism, natural and man-made disasters, and Covid 19," said Azurin.
The Lateral Entry Program for technical service officers is among the regular sources of Police Commissioned Officers in the PNP aside from the cadetship program in the PNP Academy.