MANILA — The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Tuesday launched its improved system of screening police applicants at the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Training Center in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City.
PNP chief Director General Oscar Albayalde, who graced the event, said a key feature of the new system – called Robust, Neuro-Psychiatric, MEDical and Dental Screening System for Police Applicants (RONMEDDS) – is the anonymous barcoding of applicants’ identities.
“Dito barcoded yung applicant. Walang makakaalam nito. Mawawala yung palakasan, mawawala yung lagay-lagay (In this system, applicants are barcoded. No one will know about this. The backer system and bribery will disappear), ” Albayalde said, noting that the previous system was ridden with corruption, with applicants who failed the neuro-psychiatric and physical examinations being able to bribe for their names to be included in the list of those who passed.
“Eventually, (just) from the application, magiging barcoded na (it will be barcoded),” the police chief said, adding that the new system will eventually be implemented nationwide.
Despite a large quota of 10,000 new police recruits required to be filled up this year, Albayalde said there was effort to prevent rampant corruption and bribery, as in the past for applicants to get slots.
“This is part of our preventive internal cleansing from the roots. Hopefully, we will be able to professionalize the service,” he told newsmen.
Albayalde earlier welcomed the Senate proposal to revise the PNP law and allow the agency to take full control of training police personnel.
Former PNP chief and now Senator Panfilo Lacson, Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs chairperson, is the sponsor of the proposal to amend Sections 66 and 67 of Republic Act No. 6975.
The present law mandates the Philippine Public Safety College to train police personnel.
The proposed legislation will place the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA), which trains commissioned officers, and the National Police Training Institute (NPTI), which trains non-commissioned officers, under the PNP’s administrative and operational supervision and control.
The transition to full implementation of the PNP takeover of the training program is planned to take effect over a period of one to three years, the PNP chief said.
The bill specifies that the PNPA, which will be the primary source for commissionship of Police Inspectors, will be under the supervision and control of the PNP chief.
The NPTI will be responsible for the mandatory and leadership training of non-commissioned officers. (Benjamin Pulta/PNA)
