PNP urges Remulla to rethink cut in number of generals

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) is supporting Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla’s initiative to streamline the police force.

Remulla should reconsider, however, his recommendation to trim down the number of PNP generals from over a hundred to just 25, the PNP said.

Officials are willing to meet with Remulla to present their proposed interim organizational structure, which would make the police force more efficient, said PNP public information officer Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo.

In the PNP’s proposal, the area police commands would be removed, reducing the number of key positions for police generals.

There are 111 PNP generals as of Tuesday, Fajardo noted.

The PNP, she said, has evolved since Republic Act 6975 was enacted in 1990, which established the police force under the Department of the Interior and Local Government.

Fajardo compared the PNP with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), which has around 160,000 personnel, including 120 generals.

Fajardo refused to say if the PNP, which has a strength of 232,000, can be managed by 25 generals.

“The BFP (Bureau of Fire Protection) is a small unit compared to the PNP, they have 32 generals,” she said.

The PNP has 17 police regional offices, excluding the Negros Island Region, four command groups, 11 directorates and 14 national support units.

In the National Capital Region Police Office, the five police districts are supervised by one-star generals.

“These are the main components of the PNP that would require further study,” Fajardo said.