MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives on Monday passed on second reading a bill which seeks to increase the recruitment quota for female officers in the Philippine National Police (PNP).
House Bill 9058 was passed via viva voce voting or a vote of “ayes” and “nays.” If enacted, the recruitment quota would be raised from 10 percent to 20 percent of the PNP workforce, effectively amending a two-decade-old PNP Reform Law.
This would drive the number of women in the police force up, which currently stands at 16.6 percent of the 180,000-strong PNP.
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PNP Spokesperson S/Supt. Bernard Banac lauded the proposal, saying this would allow women to supervise women and children brought to police stations for custodial investigation.
PNP Chief Director General Oscar Albayalde noted that they have already exceeded the 10 percent quota as mandated by law.
He also expressed alarm on the suggestion that as women may require additional leaves of absence due to the expanded maternity leave, the PNP may opt for a smaller number of female personnel.
Hindi naman natin dinidiscriminate yung mga female police, but then marami na rin kasi kaming nakuhang mga policewomen (We do not discriminate the female police, and we have hired many policewomen already),”Albayalde explained in a briefing last November.
“Just imagine that they cannot render service during that span of time (maternity leave), pero (but) we follow the 10-percent rule. As of this time, it’s more than 10 percent,” he added.
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According to the Commission on Human Rights and Surigao del Sur 2nd District Rep. Johnny Pimentel who authored the bill, it is not fair to oppose legislation seeking to increase more female recruits in the PNP due to the mandated maternity leave benefits for women. /ee
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