PPSC stops ‘issuematics’ in police training schools

The Philippine Public Safety College has issued guidelines to stop unnecessary deductions from the allowances and salaries of police recruits and officers who are undergoing training at the Police National Training Institute (PNTI), PPSC president Margarita Cojuangco announced yesterday.

Cojuangco said she ordered the practice to be stopped after the received complaints from police recruits and officers while on inspection trips of the 18 regional training schools of PPSC’s PNTI, headed by Chief Superintendent Samson Tucay.

"Before the PPSC prepared the guidelines, Gen. Tucay coordinated with the regional directors of the Philippine National Police since they are the ones sending police recruits for basic training and officers for the officer’s course to the PNTI," she explained.

Cojuangco pointed out that the PPSC coordinated with the PNP headquarters the issuance of the guidelines on the so-called issuematics after she and Gen. Tucay conducted dialogues with the cadets, trainees and officers.

"Issuematic" refers to the practice of issuing overpriced supplies, school uniforms, training paraphernalia, equipment and other personal items to students/trainees without any prior request nor option to refuse.

The payment of these forced purchase is automatically deducted from the pay and allowance of the recipient trainees who end up without money when they get their pay.

Tucay explained that without "issuematics," police recruits in 18 regional training schools of the PNTI now have self-respect and dignity because the practice of "issuematics," which they equate to "kotong" has been stopped by the PPSC.

Cojuangco also announced that the PPSC has coordinated with PNP headquarters to facilitate the release of allowances and other finances due the recruits/trainees so that they will not turn to loan sharks.

She said personnel involved in "issuematics" have been relieved or transferred to other PPSC offices.