MANILA, Philippines – Promotions and movements in the Philippine National Police (PNP) shouldn’t be based on the school you come from or your tenure of service, said Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Mar Roxas on Friday, May 2.

In a speech delivered at the Nueva Ecija PNP Provincial Office, the DILG chief and National Police Commission chairman said meritocracy should be the basis of promotions.

“Kung sino ang matino, kung sino ang may track record, kung sino ang makaka-deliver sa anti-criminality campaign natin, yun ang mapapansin at yun din ang mabibigyan ng promotion at position,” said Roxas.

(Whoever does a good job, with a good track record, whoever is able to deliver on our anti-criminality campaign, that person will be noticed and will be given a promotion, good positions.)

Roxas was addressing complaints of PNP Academy Alumni Association (PNPAAAI) members about the promotion system in the PNP. They said Philippine Military Academy (PMA) graduates were being favored when it comes to promotions in the PNP.

PMA, PNPA rivalry

PMA graduates from the Philippine Constabulary and Integrated National Police were absorbed into the PNP upon its creation in 1991. PMA batch of 2012 was the last to join the PNP.

Roxas earlier promised the PNPAAAI that he would address their concerns. “I do not want a promotion system based on seniority or merely on the call of PNPA or PMA graduates. Promotions must always be merit-based,” he added.

Roxas is an adopted member of PMA Class 1984.

According to a Philippine Daily Inquirer report, only 3 PNPA graduates currently have a star-rank in the PNP. In contrast, over 150 graduates of the PMA are now chief superintendents (or generals) in the PNP.

President Benigno Aquino III earlier said he would also look into the complaints of PNPA alumni, emphasizing that “everything has to be decided on merit.”

PNP chief Director General Alan Purisima on Friday, May 2, formally welcomed 184 newly-commissioned Police Inspectors from the PNPA’s “Mandilaab” Class of 2014 at Camp Crame in Quezon City.

The 184 graduates were also issued their appointment and assignment orders.

‘Field experience important’

Roxas has tasked PNP deputy chief for administration Deputy Director General Felipe Rojas to require PNP personnel to list down “anti-criminality accomplishments in their last place of assignment” in their curriculum vitae.

Rojas was also told to make sure personnel did not doctor their accomplishments, or change crime statistics in their area of responsibility just to get a favorable record.

Possible changes include “adopting a system similar to the Judicial Bar Council,” according to a statement from the DILG. Roxas also suggested that Police Inspectors, the default position of graduates from the PNPA should be “given key assignments” to give them experience and “fast-track” their careers. – Rappler.com