387 police trainees face termination for cheating in 2011 entrance exam

CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna, Philippines – At least 387 police trainees, including eight in the Calabarzon region, are reportedly facing termination from different training camps across the country for allegedly cheating in the police entrance examination in 2011.

The 387 police trainees were among the thousands of applicants who took the police entrance test on April 17, 2011 in various examination centers nationwide.

The National Police Commission  (Napolcom) subsequently ordered an investigation after discovering alleged cheating by a number of examinees.

Camp Crame and Napolcom have issued a resolution for the removal of all trainees involved in the cheating, from their respective training camps, a police official said.

These trainees are now under floating status and were ordered to report to their respective Regional Police Human and Management Division (RPHMD).

Senior Superintendent Jose Mario Espino, RPHMD-Region 4-A chief, admitted to The STAR that there are eight Calabarzon trainees listed for termination from the training camp here.

Espino said the trainees are still treated them as members of the police force and continue to get their salaries and benefits but are under floating status while the investigation is ongoing.

“We must follow the order from the higher-ups. We know their grievances but they have the right to appeal to the Napolcom,” Espino said.

Four of the eight Calabarzon trainees have filed a formal appeal before the Napolcom.

The trainees lamented that the Napolcom order was “too late” and “unfair” to them, as they are graduating on Nov. 23 after undergoing one-year physical training. They took their oaths as police trainees on Nov. 4 last year.

The trainees are asking the Napolcom to allow them to finish their training and graduate this month before they are terminated from their training camp.