PNP still open to gay applicants

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines – Unlike the Catholic Church that is closing its doors to gay priests, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said it will entertain gay applicants provided they pass the agency’s standards.

“The PNP is a gender-sensitive organization, which does not necessarily discriminate against persons merely on their sexual orientation,” Director Leopoldo Bataoil, head of the Directorate for Integrated Police Operations for Northern Luzon, said.

“We do not discriminate whether one is a gay or a lesbian if one wants to enter the police force with the foremost aim of serving and protecting the citizenry,” he said.

Bataoil is in the region to monitor the ongoing probe over last Tuesday’s killing of Cagayan Valley Agriculture head Gumersindo Lasam and the retrieval operation of the remains of those onboard the ill-fated Chemtrad plane that crashed in Cagayan last April 2.

“What is important is that the police applicants are able to pass the stringent standards and requirements of the organization, like the physical psycho-neuro examinations, which shows if one can handle the rigors and pressures of police work,” he said.

“The psycho-neuro tests are very important as they test one’s mettle under pressure, to see if the applicant can cope with stressful situations and if he or she is mentally balanced, with stable personality,” Bataoil, who also served as Director for the National Capital Region Police Office, said.

“The PNP realizes that there are some aspects of police work where gays and lesbians can make positive contributions, like in undercover work,” he said.

“In general, one’s off duty activity, especially those personal in nature, is no longer the responsibility of the PNP provided he or she acts with propriety,” he said.

Regarding the presence of homosexuals among the police officialdom, Bataoil said, “As far as I know, there are no gays among the police generals. Maybe in the past, there were.”

He said it’s up to the PNP’s medical and values formation team to determine if there are gays and lesbians among them.