Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil, chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) is pushing for an overhaul of the police organization, saying it is a better way of ensuring what he described as a civilian-centric police force.

While past reforms have been instrumental in professionalizing the organization, Marbil explained that the continuous presence of problems such as effective peace and order management and discipline-related issues proved that such reforms are not enough to transform the PNP into what it should be.

“The deeper systemic issues persist, largely due to the PNP's hierarchical and militaristic structure. The PNP needs to adopt a flatter structure instead of a hierarchical one. A flatter organization will allow quicker decision-making and ensure firmer accountability," Marbil explained.

 “There should be a significant organizational overhaul of the PNP. It's about time that reorganization, not reforms, be given due notice,” he added.

So what exactly does Marbil want?

Marbil said that streamlining the organization would address the top-down directive culture, creates operational bottlenecks, stifles grassroots innovation, and dilutes individual accountability among officers. 

He added that the PNP’s current structure was designed for a militarized force, but its civilian mandate requires a fundamentally different approach.

By streamlining the PNP, he expressed belief that officers would be better empowered to make timely and effective decisions.

A flatter structure, he argued, would enhance local accountability, build stronger community relationships, and reduce bureaucratic delays that hinder the PNP's responsiveness.  

This is the way, he said, to a modern and civilian-centric police force based on the DILG (Department of the Interior and Local Government) Act of 1990 to facilitate the PNP’s transition into a modern, civilian-centric police force.  

"We have made great strides with reforms in discipline and operational systems, but reorganization is the next logical step to cure the age-old systemic flaws," said Marbil. 

"Reorganizing the PNP is not just about improving operational efficiency; it’s about ensuring that we uphold our role as protectors of the people and exemplars of good governance," he added.