Res Gestae
67
While history associates 13 to misfortunes, I wish the 67 (6+7=13) would go along with the Chinese beliefs on the lucky number.
The 67 is the number of PNP applicants at Police Regional Office 6, Camp Delgado, Iloilo City who were "technically" disqualified from completing the recruitment process.
They were stopped halfway because of non-compliance (of the Regional Health Service 6) to the procedural guidelines mandating for the six months rest for applicants who failed in the neuro-psychiatric examination before retaking the same test.
In my previous two articles, I made clear that these 67 were pronounced to have PASSED the neuro-psychiatric test given by the Regional Health Service 6. They passed the test, however, only within three months after they failed the same in July 2007 and almost a month before a memorandum was issued reiterating the procedural guidelines in the recruitment of Police Officer 1 (PO1) resulting to their disqualification.
The affected applicants have submitted immediately their appeal to Chief Superintendent Wilfredo V Dulay Sr, the Regional Director of Police Regional Office 6; Honey F. Paredes, Regional Director of Napolcom VI; and, the Chief, PNP Avelino Razon.
I had a chance to read their letter of appeal and was so impressed of its contents. They were not posing any legal argument to advance their case. They were instead praying for a humanitarian consideration from aforesaid authorities. Here I quote some of their lines…
"We belong to poor and humble families and every centavo that comes out from our pockets equals to both sweat and blood of our parents. God knows how our parents face shame and criticisms in borrowing the amount that they are giving us to sustain us in this ordeal. We, in turn, did our very best to pass all that is required of us in order to belong to the prestigious force of the PNP and be of service to our fellow Filipinos and our country."
"Please do not look at our failing the neuro exams the first time we took it as weakness, instead consider our perseverance and determination in pursuing our dreams, strength."
It cannot be denied that the surrounding circumstances on the fate of these 67 applicants have legal grounds in their favor. The facts are plain and simple. It does not need a legal mind to understand that these applicants have VESTED RIGHT upon the declaration of their passing the neuro-psychiatric test.
Thus, should there be any question regarding their mental and psychological fitness to the PNP service, it’s no longer the burden of these 67 to prove it. But the one who alleges them otherwise has.
As of this time, the 67 applicants have not yet heard a word from Dulay, Paredes and Razon.
All they can do for the moment is to join their hands in prayer, for prayer softens the heart and moves the spirit.
For us who care, let’s join them in prayer…
(Send your comments and suggestion to rogatepnp@yahoo.com. or text 09178853564. Other articles of the author are available at www.studentsandresgestae.blogspot.com)