Roxas bats for meritocracy in police promotions, assignments

MANILA, Philippines - Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas II has ordered the Philippine National Police (PNP) to strictly observe merit and competence as bases for the promotion of police officers.

“Meritocracy, those who have track record and can deliver in our anti-criminality campaign will be given promotion and position,” Roxas said.

He instructed Deputy Director General Felipe Rojas, PNP deputy chief for administration, to require all police officers applying for promotion to include in their personal data sheet their accomplishments in their last place of assignment.

The DILG chief also ordered Rojas to scrutinize the application papers of policemen seeking promotion and new assignment.

Roxas had informed officials of the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) Alumni Association Inc. of the new guidelines during a courtesy call at the DILG office in Quezon City recently.

In the present set up,  graduates of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) hold most of the plum positions in the police organization.

Roxas assured the PNPA officials that he would look into their concern and implement measures to correct what they perceive as a disparity in the promotion and assignment of police officers.

“I do not want a promotion system based on seniority or merely on the call of PNPA or PMA graduates. Promotions must always be merit-based,” Roxas said.

He also instructed National Police Commission vice chairman Eduardo Escueta to formulate a policy mechanism to address the flaws in the PNP’s promotion and assignment system.