Napolcom warns criminology interns about violating traffic rules

MANILA, Philippines — National Police Commission (Napolcom) Commissioner Rafael Vicente Calinisan warned that criminology interns who violate traffic rules, such as riding motorcycles without helmets, could jeopardize their chances of joining the police force.

“We will get their names, identify them, and we will not process their application as policemen or entertain them in the Napolcom exams. Sweeping reforms [are] needed here,” said Calinisan in a Facebook post on Saturday.

He called on the public to take photos of “criminology interns” not wearing helmets and violating traffic rules.

He also urged the public to tag Napolcom in their posts or send the commission private messages, saying it would compile and process the submitted information, adding that the agency was serious about the problem.

READ: Criminology student faces raps over Cabanatuan road rage incident

Furthermore, Calinisan appealed to criminology schools to help weed out “entitled” individuals early, saying they should not become police officers.

“’Di dapat sila maging pulis. Salain ang dapat salain. Ayusin ang curriculum. Wag diploma mill. Nation-building is everyone’s responsibility,” said Calinisan.

(They should not become police officers. Properly screen those who need to be screened. Improve the curriculum. Do not operate diploma mills. Nation-building is everyone’s responsibility.)

READ: Napolcom revises PNP exam questions to screen out diploma-mill graduates

Earlier, Napolcom added new questions to its nationwide Philippine National Police (PNP) entrance and promotional exams to help screen out graduates of diploma mills from the police force.

Calinisan said the commission introduced entirely new questions in the latest examination cycle to ensure that police recruitment and promotions are based on competence and merit. /cb