Roxas to study proposal on PMA re-entry to police force

MANILA, Philippines - Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas II said he would study the proposal of the Philippine Military Academy Alumni Association Inc. to allow graduates of the premier military institution to again enter the police service.

“I will have to study the proposal. I think the law is clear PNP (Philippine National Police) officers must come from PNPA (Philippine National Police Academy),” Roxas explained.

Roxas said he would try to come up with measures to strengthen the programs to further improve the institution.

Roxas, who has been the DILG head since late last year, said he was not aware of the rift between the graduates of the PNPA and Philippine Military Academy (PMA) that are still serving in the police force.

“I didn’t sense the rift since I assumed office. The best thing we should do is to strengthen the areas of cooperation and make clear orders to prevent the ‘buddy-buddy’ system between the PMA-ers and the PNPA-ers,” he added.

The military is leaving it to civilian leaders to decide on whether to adopt a proposal to allow PMA graduates to reenter the PNP and the Coast Guard.

“That is a policy issue and that’s beyond us. We’ll just follow what is directed (to us),” said Armed Forces chief Gen. Emmanuel Bautista.

Bautista said he has not read a copy of the proposal, which is embodied in a draft executive order (EO).

“I have not received anything. I only read about it in the newspapers,” he said.

A group of PMA graduates is urging both PNP chief Director General Alan Purisima and Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of Staff Gen. Emmanuel Bautista to endorse to President Aquino a draft executive order allowing PMA graduates to re-enter the PNP and the Philippine Coast Guard.