The Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Police General Camilo Cascolan clarified the “rank promotion” system in the institution following his earlier statement that National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Chief Police Major General Debold Sinas might be promoted. Sinas became controversial due to a mañanita on his birthday while Metro Manila was under ECQ,
Based on Republic Act 8551 or the Philippine National Police Reform and Reorganization Act of 1998, a police officer is no longer qualified for rank promotion if he has less than a year before his mandatory retirement at 56 years old.
PGen. Cascolan clarified that promotion to a higher position or department in the PNP and not the rank may be awarded to PMaj. Gen. Sinas who will retire next year on May.
“Dalawa po kasi ang klase ng promotion. Promotion sa posisyon at promotion sa ranggo. Hindi nga ho talaga pwedeng ma-promote sa three star si General Sinas pero ang sinsasabi ko po everybody deserves to be promoted to the next higher rank for as long as he has been competent at saka ang isang tinitingnan natin ay seniority. (There are two kinds of promotion, promotion in position and promotion in rank. General Sinas cannot be promoted to three stars but I am saying that everybody deserves to be promoted to the next higher rank for as long as he has been competent and one of the things we look at is seniority),” the PNP Chief explained.
However, the official designated as the PNP Chief with a 4-star rank is exempted in the said guidelines.
More reshuffles are expected in the PNP as many officers are expected to retire whose positions need to be filled. The PNP reiterated that its basis for the reshuffle is performance and seniority.
Report from Patrick De Jesus
