Noy to look into PNPA complaints

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino vowed to look into complaints of alumni of the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) that they continue to be discriminated against in promotions and assignments in the PNP compared with graduates of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA).

“It’s a relatively young institution,” the President told reporters in a chance interview in Silang, Cavite, referring to the PNPA. “But we will look into the matter... there should be no discrimination as to where you graduated from in determining fitness for higher positions.”

Aquino was guest of honor at the PNPA’s 35th commencement exercises yesterday.

He noted that several PNPA alumni have also been promoted to key PNP posts, among them Chief Superintendents Luis Chavez, Fidel Posadas and Antonio Vernes, who are members of PNPA Class 1983, and Danilo Abarsoza of Class 1980.

“Regardless of whether it’s the PNPA or the PMA, everything has to be decided on merit… If you showed us your zeal and capability, that you are deserving of a higher position, it has been reiterated to both chains of command – both in the PMA and the PNPA,” he said.

PNPA alumni have lamented that military academy graduates dominated top positions in what is supposed to be a purely civilian institution while only a few of the 3,636 PNPA graduates have been assigned to key positions in the PNP.

When the PNP was created, members of the abolished Philippine Constabulary-Integrated National Police and subsequent PMA graduates were allowed to be absorbed into the new police force. This practice is about to end, but the final batches of PMA alumni continue to control the PNP.

The first PNP chief, a PMA graduate, was charged with corruption but died before a verdict was handed down.

Not happy

The President said he is also not happy about the feud between the leadership of the PNPA and the Philippine Public Safety College (PPSC), which exercises administrative supervision over the police academy.

“Can I take this opportunity to remind all the stakeholders involved here that you all have one mission: to take good care of the cadets, train them well, and that you all should lead by example,” he told an informal news briefing at the PNPA grounds.

“This squabble has been here for a long time and I’m not happy about it. The objective of these two institutions is to make sure that only the best are trained to become cadets, and that these two should not devote their time bickering,” he added.

He said the PNPA and the PPSC should “help each other correct the mistakes and problems,” adding that “an action” on reports of the feud is forthcoming.

Aquino was referring to the rift between PPSC president Ruben Platon and PNPA director Chief Superintendent Noel Constantino, and Platon’s exclusion from activities during the PNPA graduation rites.

The rift reportedly started when Constantino ordered the dismantling of at least 20 stalls inside the school grounds in November 2013.

Loved, not feared

Meanwhile, the PNPA’s top graduate this year said he wants to set an example as a police officer who is loved by the community, especially by children.

In his valedictory speech, Police Cadet Glenn Tabo Santelices said they are aware that true public service would not bring them wealth and power, but lead them to a narrow straight path.

He also assured the public that the taxes used in their scholarship would not go to waste. – With Cecille Suerte Felipe