Permanent ban on cheaters from taking PNP exams

MANILA, Philippines - The National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM)  on Friday  issued Memorandum Circular No. 2013-007 which permanently bars cheating examinees from retaking the Philippine National Police (PNP) entrance and promotional examinations.

The NAPOLCOM en banc headed by Interior and Local Government Secretary and NAPOLCOM Chairman Mar Roxas approved the new memorandum circular which amended Memorandum Circular No. 2000-007 to strengthen the sanctions in cases of cheating, collusion, misrepresentation, substitution or any anomalous acts in connection with the nationwide conduct of police examinations.

NAPOLCOM Vice-Chairman and Executive Officer Eduardo Escueta said the Commission had observed that there had been instances of cheating and other violations in the previous conduct of the PNP examinations which affect the integrity of the NAPOLCOM-administered examinations.

Escueta added that it has also been noted that there are individuals who use fake NAPOLCOM police eligibility, which is also a form of cheating, in their entry into the police service.

“To maintain the integrity and sanctity of the NAPOLCOM examinations, the Commission approved the new memorandum circular which imposes stiffer sanctions on all cases of cheating and other anomalous acts relative to the conduct of the police examinations,” Escueta said.

Under the new memorandum circular, the Commission shall invalidate the examination results of examinees involved in impersonation, use of codigo or crib sheets, tampering of exam records, collusion of whatever nature between examinees and examination personnel, examination number switching, acts that facilitate the passing of examination and results declared by the Commission as statistically improbable.

“To deter examinees from committing any form of cheating, civilian examinees shall now be permanently barred from taking the PNP entrance examination instead of just barring them from taking the said exam for a period of three years,” Escueta said.

Escueta added that if these anomalous acts were committed by a police officer, he/she shall be charged with dishonesty and, if found guilty, be meted the penalty of dismissal from the service.

The new MC also states that individuals who are found to have used fake NAPOLCOM eligibility for their entry into the police service shall likewise be permanently barred from taking the NAPOLCOM examinations.

“Police service eligibility obtained through cheating or other anomalous practices shall be nullified,” Escueta said.

Proctors, examiners, supervisors and other officials and persons who shall be found to have been involved in such anomalous acts shall also be criminally or administratively held liable in accordance with law and the Civil Service rules and regulations.

“The Commission approved the stiffer sanctions on examination cheating to put an end to the blatant disregard of examination rules and regulations since it is a stark manifestation of dishonesty which is deviant from the vision of the PNP to transform its organization into a highly capable, effective and credible police organization,” Escueta said. - Mike Frialde