For Police, Fire & Jail

CEBU, Philippines - If Cebu third district Rep. Pablo John Garcia’s bill is approved, there would no longer be any height requirement for those who would want to be policemen, firefighters or jail officers.“Height should not be a restriction for people who want to serve the country as police, fire and jail officers provided they possess other qualifications required in the effective performance of their duties,” Garcia said.

Garcia, who is running for governor in 2013, filed the “Police, Fire and Jail Height Equality Act of 2012” which seeks to amend Republic Act 6975 or the Department of Interior and Local Government Act of 1990 and R.A. 9263 known as the Bureau of Fire Protection and Bureau of Jail Management and Penology Professionalization Act of 2004.

Garcia seeks the immediate passage of his proposal given the crucial coverage of responsibilities in law enforcement.

He said fire protection and jail management, the PNP, the BFP and the BJMP need more competent members to better serve the growing demands of the public.

“However, this noble intent is impeded by the height requirement that prevents potential candidates from entering the service,” Garcia lamented.

Garcia cited Section 1, Article XII of Social Justice and Human Rights in the Philippine Constitution which mandates Congress “to give highest priority to the enactment of measures that protect and enhance the right of all people to human dignity, reduce social, economic and political inequalities, and remove cultural inequities...”

He also cited Article 7 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which states that “All are equal before the law and are entitled to equal protection against any discrimination.”

Under the current law, a male PNP, fire and jail officer has to be at least 1.62 meters (5'3") tall while a female police, fire and jail officer must be at least 1.57 meters (5'1") tall.

Garcia said because of the required height for police, fire and jail officers, a good number of possible candidates, mostly women, are being denied the opportunity to serve the country.

“Removing this height requirement will effectively address this concern,” Garcia said.

Garcia’s bill is now pending before the House Committee on Public Order and Security. — (FREEMAN)