Senator Francis Tolentino, a member of the bicameral Commission on Appointments (CA), on Wednesday, September 14 pleaded with the Department of Interior and Local government (DILG) that Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) cadets should be recognized as government employees.
` Tolentino made the plea when a CA committee held a public hearing to determine the fitness of former Metro Manila Development Authority chief Benjamin ‘Benhur’ Abalos Jr. to be confirmed as Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary.
This plea was earlier stated by Tolentino in the confirmation hearing of Civil Service Commission (CSC) Chairperson Karlo Nograles last September 7
According to Tolentino, CSC Resolution No. 020122 is a “deplorable” resolution that should be reversed.
The resolution states that PNPA cadets are not government employees and thus, not covered by the civil service law and rules.
Tolentino stated that he hopes DILG Secretary Abalos could do something about the failure to recognize PNPA cadets as government employees for the last 20 years.
Under Republic Act No. 6975, known as the “Department of the Interior and Local Government Act of 1990”, the PNP is one of the bureaus and offices under the auspices of the DILG.