The Philippine National Police (PNP) said it is open to raising the recruitment quota for women in the organization to 20 percent as it cited their growing leadership role and critical contributions to peace and order.
PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio C. Nartatez, Jr. explained that the police organization has truly evolved into a mature and professional organization as more women are taking on key roles and actively contributing to the organization.
“Female police officers bring a unique perspective to the field, often prioritizing empathy and mediation. They excel in handling sensitive cases to make people in the community feel that their voices are heard, and feel safer,” said Nartatez.
As of February 2026, PNP data showed that women now comprise 52,223 of the organization’s 236,493 personnel, representing 22.08 percent of the total force.
This includes 43,847 uniformed personnel, 8,098 non-uniformed staff, and 278 cadets.
“I am immensely proud. This is not just a number but proof of our evolving culture. Gender has never and should never be the standard of dedication to capability, it is always the kind of service and dedication,” said Nartatez.
“In the case of the PNP, our female officers are no longer just supporting, they are already leading,” he added.
Nartatez has expressed openness to for the permanent adoption of a 20 percent recruitment quota for women, a significant jump from the existing 10 percent requirement, to ensure a steady pipeline of female talent capable of taking on high-level commands.
“We have shattered the glass ceiling. From field operations to high-level commands, we are giving them fair chance. We have female generals and provincial directors leading with excellence because we value competence above all else,” Nartatez noted.
Several bills have been filed in the Senate and House of Representatives in the past seeking to increase the recruitment quota for women in the PNP to boost gender representation and strengthen the role of female officers in law enforcement.