DILG welcomes first overall PNP reform since 1998

Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) welcomed on Wednesday the proposed law seeking to introduce “long overdue” reforms and to address institutional issues in the Philippine National Police.

“This measure will lead to the first comprehensive legislative reform of the PNP since 1998,” Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos said on Wednesday.

Sen. Ronald dela Rosa, chair of the Senate committee on public order, introduced Senate Bill No. 2249, which amends Republic Act No. 6975, also known as the DILG Act of 1990, and RA 8551, or the PNP Reform and Reorganization Act of 1998.

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It is a counterpart measure of House Bill No. 8327, which was approved on third and final reading in August.

“It’s about time we introduce organizational reforms in the PNP to empower our police force to effectively address current challenges of law enforcement,” said Abalos, who also chairs the National Police Commission. Abalos earlier said he wanted the law reforming the PNP to be passed before the end of the year.

Among the salient provisions in SB 2249 is the institutionalization of various PNP offices created ad hoc over the past 25 years to respond to the country’s evolving public safety concerns.

Abalos said the reforms would address the issue of PNP promotions, which the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) flagged as being excessive.

The DBM last year noted that of the 35 unauthorized PNP positions, five were for lieutenant generals, six for major generals and 24 for brigadier generals.

The DBM allows only three for lieutenant general against the present eight; for major general only 11 against the current 17; and for brigadier general only 86 against the 110 currently holding the post.

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