Senate OKs bill seeking to modify rank classification in PNP
The Senate has approved on third and final reading a bill seeking to modify the classification of ranks in the Philippine National Police (PNP).
Senate Bill No. 2031, approved on Monday with 18 affirmative votes, will standardize how police officers are being called, according to Sen. Panfilo Lacson, principal author of the bill.
“In order to maintain its clear distinction from the members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the ranks to be used in addressing the PNP personnel shall be preceded by the word ‘Police’,” Lacson, who was PNP chief from 1999 to 2001, said in a statement.
The bill will amend the Section 28 of the Department of the Interior and Local Government Act of 1990, or Republic Act No. 6975, he said.
Under the bill, the classification of ranks in the PNP will be changed as follows:
- Director-General to Police General
- Deputy Director-General to Police Lieutenant General
- Director to Police Major General
- Chief Superintendent to Police Brigadier General
- Senior Superintendent to Police Colonel
- Superintendent to Police Lieutenant Colonel
- Chief Inspector to Police Major
- Senior Inspector to Police Captain
- Inspector to Police Lieutenant
- Senior Police Officer 4 to Police Executive Master Sergeant
- Senior Police Officer 3 to Police Chief Master Sergeant
- Senior Police Officer 2 to Police Senior Master Sergeant
- Senior Police Officer 1 to Police Master Sergeant
- Police Officer 3 to Police Staff Sergeant
- Police Officer 2 to Police Corporal
- Police Officer 1 to Patrolman or Patrolwoman
According to Lacson, an improved rank classification system in the PNP will help the police coordinate better with other law enforcement agencies in operations against crimes and terrorism.
“Experiences both of our policemen and soldiers tell us that unnecessary lags occur when one still finds it necessary to check who his or her counterpart from the police or military is,” he said.
He said, however, that the bill would not militarize or take away the civilian character of the PNP. /atm
