Senate OKs PNP Organization Reform bill on third reading
The Senate has approved on third and final reading the measure that would introduce “much-needed” reforms in the Philippine National Police (PNP).
Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, former PNP chief, welcomed the Senate’s approval of Senate Bill No. 2449. Twenty-three (23) senators voted in favor of the bill.
“After all these years, finally, the PNP organizational reforms we sought to introduce are being materialized, they are beginning to see the light of day,” said Dela Rosa, principal sponsor of the measure, on Monday, February 6.
“I hope we can all welcome that day together, when this measure is passed into law, soon enough,” the chairperson of the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs said.
SBN 2449 seeks to amend Republic Act No. 6975, also known as the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Act of 1990, as well as Republic Act No. 8551, or the Philippine National Police (PNP) Reform and Reorganization Act of 1998.
Dela Rosa noted there have been several attempts in the past to reform the PNP based on the recommendations of the National Police Commission (Napolcom) and the PNP itself but these were merely archived, forcing the institution to function based on a 25-year old law.
“May this be the year that they receive, in their honorable institution, the legislated reforms they so rightfully deserve,” the senator hoped.
The principal author of the measure, Sen. Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr., likewise, welcomed the passage of the measure in the Senate.
"Tiwala akong magiging malaking tulong ang pagsasaayos ng hanay ng pulisya para mas mapaigting pa ang pagpapanatili ng kabuuang kapayapaan sa ating mga pamayanan (I am confident that the adjustment of the police ranks will be of great help to further intensify the maintenance of total peace in our communities)," Revilla said.
Once passed into law, SBN 2449 will provide the PNP to carry out organizational reforms, including the creation of new offices like area police commands in clustered regional offices for inter-regional operations and city police offices in highly urbanized and independent component cities.
The measure also seeks to institutionalize special police offices such as the Philippine National Police Academy, Strategy Management Center, Human Rights Affairs Office, Peace Process and Development Center, Command Center, Public Information Office, Liaison Office for the Office of the President, Liaison Office for the Department of the Interior and Local Government, Legislative Affairs Center, and the Office of the Police Attaché to continue supporting PNP.
The measure also aims to establish a command group composed of the Chief of the PNP, the Deputy Chief of the PNP for Administration, the Deputy Chief of the PNP for Operations, and the Chief of the Directorial Staff, whose members shall be selected from among the most senior and qualified officers in the service.
“Importante kasi na maisaayos natin ang mga opisina sa hanay ng PNP para lalong mas maging episyente at epektibo ang kanilang pagtugon sa kanilang mga tungkulin (It's important that we organize the offices in the ranks of the PNP so that they can be more efficient and effective in responding to their duties)," Revilla added.
“Panahon na para masakatuparan ang repormang matagal nang inaasam ngbating mga kababayan sa ating pulisya (It is time to carry out the reform that our citizens have been hoping for for a long time in our police). This will be beneficial for the institution and for the people they serve and protect,” he reiterated.