New chief cop vows meritocracy in PNP promotions, postings

PNP Chief Police Director Ricardo Marquez. INQUIRER PHOTO/LYN RILLON

He has instructed the personnel management at the Philippine National Police to work out policies that would ensure that promotions and assignments are handed out based on merit, PNP chief Director General Ricardo Marquez said in a statement.

“I have issued instructions to the Directorate for Personnel and Records Management to constitute a study group… to work on the mechanics of a competency-based selection, placement and promotion system that is sustainable, fair and reliable,” Marquez said.

The PNP chief was responding to a statement by alumni from the PNP Academy that criticized Interior Secretary Mar Roxas for his alleged inaction to their appeal for him to correct the disparity in promotions for PNPA and Philippine Military Academy (PMA) graduates.

The PNPA alumni led by Tomas Rentoy III slammed Roxas for allegedly sitting on their appeal made a year ago.

But in a press briefing, PNP spokesman Chief Supt. Wilben Mayor said Marquez’s directive, issued as early as Thursday, was based on instructions by President Aquino and Roxas himself.

“That was his directive… on meritocracy,” Mayor said.

The PNP spokesman said Marquez met on Monday with representatives from the legal service, the internal affairs service, personnel and records management as well as the investigative and detective management units to see the groups’ plans on the PNP’s disciplinary machinery.

“Knowing the PNP chief’s work habits, in two weeks to a month there should be results,” Mayor said.

In the PNP, the Senior Officers Placement and Promotion Board decides on the assignments of senior police officials.