Sen. Joel Villanueva, chairman of the Committee on Labor, Employment and Human Resources Development (Screengrab/Senate PRIB)
MANILA, Philippines—Senator Joel Villanueva slammed the proposal of the Philippine National Police (PNP) to require workers to first present a police clearance before transacting with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), calling the process unnecessary.
Villanueva’s statement, which was issued Saturday, coincides with Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra’s opposition questioning PNP Chief Gen. Debold Sinas’ pronouncements that only those carrying police clearances will be accommodated at DOLE offices.
“Why should a jobless OFW wanting to get financial help from DOLE be required to detour to a police station?” said Villanueva. “To me that is an unnecessary, costly, time-consuming stopover.”
“A police permit is not needed to get help from DOLE.”
Villanueva added that what the PNP is planning is to insinuate that the DOLE will become a hub for them to look into the backgrounds of people and apprehend those who’ve faulted the authorities.
“It is not an apprehension place for the police where they can set up a dragnet for people who have unfinished business with authorities,” said Villanueva who added that the PNP should, instead, go after those who’ve committed crimes instead of waiting for them to arrive.
“You go after them and not wait for them to walk into the precinct.”
This proposal, Villanueva feared, will dissuade “workers in distress” looking to ask DOLE for help.
“It’s not because they have records. But because of the hassle, fatigue, time and money they will spend,” said Villanueva.