THE country’s 28th chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), General Rodolfo S. Azurin Jr., has bared a number of legislations they will be proposing with the 19th Congress to further reform the 226,000-strong force and improve its ‘move, shoot, communicate and investigate’ capabilities.

According to the top cop, they will be prioritizing the following eight proposed legislations before the House of Representatives headed by Speaker Ferdinand Martin T. Romualdez and the Senate headed by Senate President Juan Miguel ‘Migz’ F. Zubiri.

1. Conferring the cadets of PNPA the status of government employee;

2. Providing for the reorganization/right-sizing of the PNP;

3. Revitalization and Capability Enhancement of the PNP

4. Amending the educational requirements of the PNP applicants;

5. Strengthening the Recruitment, Selection and Appointment of uniformed personnel in the PNP;

6. Establishment of a National Police Clearance (NPC) System;

7. Instituting the Revitalized Barangay Police of the PNP;

8. Free Legal Assistance to Military and Uniformed Personnel.

“We would like the PNPA cadets to also receive a status of government employee, similar to the cadets of the Philippine Military Academy,” the member of PMA ‘Makatao’ Class of 1989 said.

The top cop said that under him, training enhancement will be part of the career advancement, development and competency refresher for every member of the force.

Thus, he added that 204 new PNPA graduates who have been commissioned as Police Lieutenants will have to undergo training from either the Philippine Army’s Scout Ranger Regiment, the Army’s Special Forces or the Philippine Marines’ Recon Training.

Gen. Azurin also ordered a thorough review of the responsiveness and relevance of the PNP training program given to PNP recruits, In-Service Police Non-Commissioned Officers and Police Commissioned Officers.

“PNPA cadets’ curriculum and medium of instruction shall also be reviewed,” he added. The responsibility has been given to the PNP Directorate for Human Resource and Doctrine Development headed by Major Gen. Arthur V. Bisnar.

In October 2019, the PNP leadership officially assumed supervision over the PNPA which is the country’s premier training institution for police commissioned officers.

The PNP took over the job previously given to the Philippine Public Safety College. With the PNPA already under its supervision, the PNP now has full responsibility on the training of future police officers.

The job will also ensure that will be able to effectively address dysfunctions in the Academy and instill real discipline among the future police colonels and generals.

Gen. Azurin said they are also pushing for a law that will allow a ‘reorganization/right-sizing’ of the police force.

In his 1st State-of-the-Nation-Address, President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ R. Marcos Jr. spelled out the priority legislations which he said must be backed by Congress, among them government rightsizing and budget modernization measures.

The President said the National Government Rightsizing Program (NGRP) seeks to enhance the government’s institutional capacity to perform and provide better services.

He said that the measure particularly aims to ‘rightsize’ the government bureaucracy by merging, splitting, transferring and abolishing some of its offices. The effort will involve the conduct of a comprehensive strategic review of functions, programs and projects that will cut across various agencies.

The program would allow the government to save a significant amount of the budget which may be used to fund priority projects, officials said.

Gen. Azurin said they are also pushing for the ‘revitalization and capability enhancement of the PNP’ thru the acquisition and upgrading of their basic equipment, refleeting, modern equipage as well as infrastructure and facilities development.

The program would cost the government P128 billion in the next 10-years but would mean a 100 percent fill-up of basic PNP equipment and infrastructures.

The PNP chief said that other legislative agenda for enrollment with the 19th Congress are the following:

1. A Bill providing Magna Carta for the PNP;

2. Granting Educational Assistance to the Dependents of Uniformed PNP Personnel who are killed or permanently incapacitated while in the performance of their duty;

3. Increasing the quota requirements of PNP female officers;

4. Establishing the Police Law Enforcement Courts;

5. Increasing the combat pay and combat incentive pay for the PNP;

6. Additional funding for the PNP’s suppression of insurgency;

7. Establishing the Philippine Legislative Police and;

8. Institutionalizing the Public Safety Reserve Force of the PNP, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology and Bureau of Fire Protection.

“The marching order for every Filipino is his (President Marcos) call to unity. Let’s steer this country towards greatness. Do our best everyday as it is is our last day and continue to challenge the status quo. Maayos, Mapayapa at may Malasakit sa bawat Pilipino,” Gen. Azurin said.

Gen. Azurin received the PNP command saber and symbol of leadership from Department of Interior and Local Government Undersecretary for Peace and Order, retired Gen. Oscar F. Valenzuela on Wednesday last week.

In his keynote address, Usec.Valenzuela highlighted the significant accomplishments of the PNP under its erstwhile Officer-in-Charge, Lieutenant Gen. Vicente D. Danao Jr.. He said that during the 3-month stint of Lt Gen. Danao as PNP-OIC, the police force gained much footing in the fight against illegal drugs, criminality and terrorism.

“The DILG is assured that with PGen Azurin’s leadership of the PNP, much more will be accomplished in safeguarding our country from these social ills. The DILG is optimistic that you can strengthen and polish the vibrancy and integrity of the police badge symbolizing service, honor, and justice, virtues which can be summed up in the word “Trust,” Valenzuela said.