RES GESTAE
Latent dysfunction
The Philippine National Police is an organization where inequality is rather a general rule than an exception.
This is particularly obvious in its Lateral Entry Program.
To be more specific, I am referring to Line Officer positions where only licensed criminologists are eligible to apply.
Let me define important concepts here.
Lateral Entry Program is a mode of promotion in the Philippine National Police which in-service police non-commissioned officers (PNCOs) may avail of, provided that he or she is a licensed criminologist or has a license in such other degrees as required in technical line positions.
Line Officer positions are open only to licensed criminologists, while Technical Line positions qualify doctors, priests/imams/pastors, dentists, engineers (mechanical/electrical/etc.), information technologists, psychologists, lawyers, etc.
When in-service trainings may not be a requisite for Technical Line positions but only the practice of profession; ranks and time and grade are considerations for applying in Line Officer positions.
Thus, “civilians” may apply for Technical Line positions, while only (maybe as a general rule, if not a practice) in-service police personnel (licensed criminologists) may apply for Line Officer positions.
I need to stress that Lateral Entry Program is an opportunity (let me just talk specifically for PNCOs here) in getting fast promotion as Police Commissioned Officers (PCOs).
When we talk of PCOs, the rank starts from Police Inspector, which a PNCO can only get through a regular process after 20 years (not less than) in the service or, with the Lateral Entry Program, after five years (at least) in the service.
Well, I have nothing to argue about the qualification standards for Technical Line positions. One really needs to be a doctor, a lawyer, an engineer, etc., to do the job which needs technical expertise in that field.
But, hey, that’s not necessarily for Line Officer positions! One’s license in Criminology does not necessarily make him or her a good chief of police or team leader in a detachment. Neither does a license in Criminology alone qualify one to do the work of a chief of police or team leader of a unit. Any police officer who is seasoned by time, training, and experience can do that. And can probably do it better.
With that initial premise, I contend that Lateral Entry Program of the PNP for Line Officer positions is blatantly discriminatory.
It discriminates police personnel whose only disqualification for the position is not having a license in Criminology.
Nonsense. Irrational. Uncompetitive.
I can’t really help but consider that such practice in the PNP Lateral Entry Program for Line Officer positions is one of the dysfunctions that the PNP must resolve as it gears up with its Integrated Transformation Program.
I am reminded of the slogan of the Regional Training School 6, where police recruits undergo their Police Basic Recruit Course. It is written in big, bold letters on the wall facing the main gate: “The Best and the Brightest”.
Yes, this writer strongly believes that the PNP admits only recruits who are the best and the brightest among hundreds of applicants. And these recruits fortunately, yes, fortunately, are not all criminologists. The lion share of the quota during PNP recruitment always goes to graduates of Bachelor of Arts and such other degrees (better than Criminology)!
Now, I pose this challenge to anyone .... criminologists…. Tell me that I have missed a point!
My number is 09193161190.