Res Gestae
PNP's recruitment, avenue for change
About 700 young professionals flock at Camp Delgado everyday hoping to qualify in the recruitment of 200 police personnel (PO1s) this year. The number of aspirants is no longer unusual. In previous recruitments, the situation was almost the same. Hundreds or even a thousand of applicants tried their luck but only a few were lucky enough to join the quota intended for the region.
Apparently, the statistics is indicative of lack of job opportunities in the country today. To note, not only graduates of BS Criminology are the applicants in this year's recruitment, as it was in the previous years. Graduates of other courses, like Bachelor of Science in Education, Information Technology, Engineering, Bachelor of Arts, etc., are also seeking job employment in the PNP. This would suffice to say that should there be enough job vacancies in other agencies or offices; the scenario would have been different.
On the side of the PNP, however, the situation is very advantageous. With so many applicants to choose from, we are hoping to select not only the best but importantly the right persons for the police service. Right persons are not necessarily those applicants with good grades or highest eligibility ratings. Of course, good academic credentials would always make good impression and an advantage. But, the applicants must also possess other qualifications that would render them fit for training, and eventually in the police work.
This year's recruitment is another golden opportunity for the PNP to hire applicants who would boost the organization. For several years now, the PNP's thrust to regain the full trust and confidence of the community is making an impact. Though other scalawag members remain elusive and their continued existence is a disgrace to the noble mandate of the profession. But, the PNP scalawags will not live any longer; they will follow the way of dinosaurs. That, if the PNP Recruitment and Selection Board does well during the hiring period.
Since 2001 the recruitment for the police service happens not only once but at times even twice a year. But, controversy, particularly on the interference of politicians and other influential personalities, tainted the credibility of the recruitment. There were complaints of extortion (or maybe bribery). There were rumors of manipulation of the results or what they referred to as "dagdag-bawas". And the aggrieved parties accused the politicians of this malfeasance.
Whether there is truth in these issues, I still want to refuse the controversies that haunt the recruitment. I always wanted to believe that PNP' Recruitment and Selection Board is an independent body – objective, reasonable, reliable and credible. I want the members of the Board to enjoy the benefit of the doubt that indeed they are: objective, reasonable, reliable and credible.
I have this conviction because I hope for the transformation of the PNP. If every year the PNP recruits the right persons for its ranks, it would soon establish to the public an image of dependability, reliability and credibility.
(Comments and suggestions are welcome. Send them to rogatepnp@yahoo.com or 09203025828.)