Res Gestae
'Neurotic' no more
I write for 67 police wannabes whose passion to prove their worth for public service needs not only be justified by their poverty but by the spirit of the law.
These 67 hopefuls were recently barred from proceeding in the application process despite the PASSED evaluation in the neuro-psychiatric test conducted by the Regional Health Service 6, Camp Delgado, Iloilo City last October 13.
The reason was that they passed the neuro-psychiatric test before the lapse of six months after they first took it sometime in July 2007 but failed. It is correct at the onset!
Indeed, the procedural guidelines so provides that in the recruitment process for Police (or Patrol) Officer 1 "once an applicant fails the Neuro Psychiatric examination being conducted by the Neuro-Psychiatric Section, PNP Health Service, he/she can only be allowed to retake the same after six (6) months." The provision, according to the Directorate for Personnel and Resource Management (TDPRM) of the PNP, is "in furtherance to the specific objective of the PNP that the appointment to Police (or Patrol) Officer 1 (PO1) position shall be based on the principle of Merit and Fitness. In fact, this is the reason why recruitment in the police service requires rigid screening and selection of mentally and emotionally fit applicants who can cope with the stress and demands of their training.
I don't disagree with the contention of the memorandum and the intention of the provision. As regards to their application, however, I can pose a different perspective.
The PNP is gearing towards its transformation, in which its kind of members is of paramount consideration. The PNP must have quality members to realize its Integrated Transformation Program. And, the transformation of its personnel must start therefore by hiring new breed of police officers, who epitomize the Mamang Pulis, a man of faith dedicated to serve and protect the community.
The neuro-psychiatric examination, though may not be absolute with its results, is a widely accepted and scientific mode of determining the mental state of the individual (at least within an approximate span of time). Hence, one could be assessed "neurotic" at one time but not the other time, vice versa.
Such was the experience of the 67 police wannabes at Camp Delgado. They were evaluated "neurotic" last July 2007 but declared otherwise on October 2007. In barely three months, they have "recovered".
Now, is the aforesaid provision of the procedural guidelines applicable in the instance of these 67? Certainly and absolutely, NOT!
Despite the non-compliance to the six-month rule, the 67 applicants have acquired the eligibility to proceed with the application process upon the declaration of the Regional Health Service that they PASSED the neuro-psychiatric test. The declaration has VESTED these applicants the RIGHT like other applicants who passed the test.
Vested right as defined in case of Luque vs. Villegas, 30 SCRA 417 is "such a complete, well consummated right that it cannot be divested without the consent of the person to whom it belongs; one that is fixed or established and no longer open to controversy. It is absolute and unconditional, to the exercise of which no obstacle exists." In another case, the Supreme Court also defines vested right as "an immediate fixed right of present or future enjoyment (Villareal vs. Santos, 34 SCRA 432).
The definitions provided by the Court in those cases apply to the instance of the 67 applicants, against whom a memorandum was implemented arbitrarily, though may not be intentional on the part of the concerned office or unit of the PNP.
The six-month rule on the re-taking of neuro-psychiatric test is no doubt a good measure; but it has no application in the case of these 67 police wannabes who had been re-evaluated as "neurotic" no more shortly after three months they were examined otherwise.
(Send your comments and suggestions to rogatepnp@yahoo.com or text 09178853564.)