Wanted: Doctors, lawyers, priests

MANILA, Philippines—The national police force is looking for a few good men and women, especially doctors, lawyers and priests.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) has announced 75 vacancies for professionals who may wish to join the ranks of commissioned officers in the 140,000-strong force.

In a statement, PNP spokesperson Senior Supt. Generoso Cerbo Jr. said the Directorate for Personnel and Records Management was conducting another round of lateral entry screenings to fill openings for technical service officers in the police force’s National Support Units.

Successful applicants who are medical doctors, lawyers and chaplains will be appointed to the entry rank of senior inspector with a monthly base salary of P35,312, he said.

Other professionals who will also be taken in will be given the entry rank of inspector with a monthly salary of P32,341, Cerbo said.

Needed are four lawyers for the PNP Legal Service, nine officers for the Communication and Electronics Service, 12 medico-legal officers and 20 forensic and chemical officers for the PNP Crime Laboratory, two pilots for the Special Action Force, one chaplain officer for the Chaplain Service, and 12 medical officers and 15 nurses for the PNP Health Service.

Applicants are required to undergo a mandatory written competitive examination and physical, medical and dental exams, Cerbo said.

“To broaden the pool of applicants, the Lateral Entry Program has allowed qualified personnel from different PNP units to apply even if the vacancies are in other units,” Cerbo said.

“We want to have as many qualified applicants as possible in order to have a wider range for selection because we want to get only the best and most qualified officers for the job,” the spokesperson said.