‘Innate talent’ not enough; police probers must train for the job

The Northern Police District relieved 13 police investigators of their posts due to a certain problem: None of them had undergone formal training as criminal investigators.

NPD public information officer Superintendent Ferdinand del Rosario said the officers must now take a 45-day course, as required under a March 12 directive from the National Capital Region Police Office director, Chief Supt. Alan Purisima.

In an interview Wednesday, Del Rosario said the 13 policemen from Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas and Valenzuela were relieved after they were found to be still holding positions as investigators despite noncompliance with the NCRPO order.

“It doesn’t matter if they have worked there for a long time. They must have formal training to be there,” Del Rosario explained.

Asked why the “untrained” officers were designated as investigators in the first place, Del Rosario explained: “Before, it sufficed that you had innate talent or were taught by a veteran investigator, or that you were a criminology graduate.”

“Now there are stringent requirements. It’s like being a doctor: You can be a doctor but without specialization. Once you take this course, you get that specialization.”