IT could go on record as the 1st since the Philippine National Police was created in 1991 as this time, senior PNP officials are on a warpath against one of their bosses in the National Police Commission or Napolcom.

I’m referring to the bold move of demoralized 3RD-Level Officers of the 228,000-strong force to ink a manifesto petitioning the Office of the President to remove Napolcom Vice-Chairman and Executive Officer (VCEO) Alberto A. Bernardo from his post and release their long-delayed promotion. Since August 2022, ‘promotable’ police generals and colonels have decried their much-delayed promotion with a number of them retiring without getting an increased rank and pay after being disqualified for promotion due to their age.

“In the interest of the service and recognition of the valuable contributions of officers who have sacrificed the better days of their lives serving as guardians of the people, it is only proper to recognize them through promotion. However, the halted promotion of the deserving third level officers caused demoralization on their part. Hence, there is a need to urgently address the foregoing issues and the plight of the officers on the promotion in order to stop the continuing demoralization and to prevent the occurrence of a destabilization plot,” part of the manifesto says.

The manifesto says “the foregoing acts of VCEO promote discord, hostility, and animosity in our organization. In this regard, we, the third level officers of the PNP, earnestly pray to His Excellency that Commissioner Alberto A. Bernardo be replaced by a more competent NAPOLCOM Commissioner who will promote unity in our organization and advocate the uplifting of morale and welfare of the PNP personnel.”

For many, Attorney Bernardo may be doing a good job as Napolcom VCEO particularly when it comes to going after rogues in police uniform. However, dozens of senior PNP officials have resented his move to block their promotion citing in particular the case of 3rd-Level Officers occupying positions created under Republic Act 6975 which created the PNP and RA 8551 or the PNP Reform and Reorganization Act of 1998 and those created as a result of resolutions issued by previous Napolcom leaderships.

RA 8551 strengthened and expanded the authority of the Napolcom over the PNP to include the administration of police entrance examinations, the conduct of pre-charge investigation of police anomalies and irregularities and summary dismissal of erring police personnel.

However, word is out in Camp Crame that the promotion of 3rd-Level Officers has been delayed due to issues raised by Bernardo regarding the so-called ‘Regular Promotion’ which refers to officials that automatically earn a promotion as they occupy positions created by the PNP law vis-à-vis those so-called ‘Irregular Promotion’ or officials that could be promoted to the next higher rank as they occupy positions created as a result of previous Napolcom resolutions.

A Napolcom resolution issued in May 2009 or during the former Macapagal-Arroyo administration created the PNP Directorates for Integrated Police Operations which were given the responsibility to direct the conduct of integrated anti-criminality, internal security and counter-terrorism operations in the clustered areas of the country.

The DIPOs from Northern and southern Luzon, Visayas and Eastern and Western Mindanao were patterned after the five Armed Forces of the Philippines’ Area Commands. When it was created, each DIPO was headed by a 2-Star General, a Deputy a 1-Star General and the Executive Officer a Colonel.

However, under the former Duterte administration, the Napolcom upgraded the rank of the three top officials of the DIPO, later renamed as Area Police Commands to Lieutenant General, Major General and Brigadier General as the APCs were given more teeth to supervise the anti-criminality and anti-terror operations of the police regional offices.

Previous Napolcom resolutions also created a number of PNP National Operational and Administrative Support Units supposed to be headed by 2-Star and 1-Star generals which were previously not included in the original PNP Law. This has been the bone of contention of the current Napolcom administration.

However, the petitioners said that despite the issues facing the morale and welfare of 3rd-Level Officers, “we assure the same commitment to serve and protect the people and pledge our utmost loyalty to the present administration.”

I learned that over 100 PNP Star-Rank Officers and Full-Fledged Colonels from Metro Manila and Central Luzon and Calabarzon regions have agreed to sign the manifesto stating their plight and the sentiments of the entire PNP organization against Bernardo that will be forwarded to the Office of the President.

“We can no longer remain apathetic to these issues which vitally affect our rights and essentially hinder our performance of our bounden duties,” the petition says.

The officials cited the letter of Bernardo to Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin last August 23 wherein he said that “the Napolcom cannot recommend to President Bongbong Marcos Jr. the promotion of 3rd-Level PNP Officers due to excess and prohibited positions.”

However, the petitioners have argued that it contradicts prior acts of Napolcom in the past such as the issuance of resolutions creating the various PNP positions and even units or offices.

“Those prior acts of Napolcom are imbued with presumption of regularity since its approval of the said Resolutions was made pursuant to its constitutional and statutory mandate to exercise administrative control and operational supervision over the PNP,” the petition letter says..

“With this, it is without a doubt, that all of the 153 authorized positions for star rank officers have basis in law and or Napolcom Resolutions that were sanctioned by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM). The promotional process conducted to the third level officers strictly adhered to the policies laid down by Napolcom in pursuance to its Constitutional mandate.

“Most importantly, the PNP authorized positions and organizational structure are based on a 1998 law (RA No. 8551) which is outdated and is definitely no longer responsive to the needs and demands of the current times in terms of public safety and security; hence, the need of the previous Napolcom administrations to add and increase positions, units and offices in order to cope up with the ever dynamic and changing demands and needs of the community, which we believe are acts well strategized and thought of by the previous Napolcom as compared to that of the current VCEO,” the petition-letter also says.

The officials have also responded to issues on alleged technical malversation committed by the PNP in funding the pay and allowances of unauthorized PNP positions as raised by the Napolcom official.

The manifesto says that during a consultative meeting, the DBM affirmed that Personnel Services (PS) appropriation is computed to cover the 100% PS requirements of actual filled and unfilled positions for the Military and Uniformed Personnel.

Second, they say that the actual filled positions are based on various approved Napolcom Resolutions and that the PNP is not committing technical malversation by using the salary of Patrolman to fund the salary of third level officers.

The DBM cited Section 54 of RA No. 11936 which authorizes the utilization of any available allotment for Personnel Services for the payment of deficiencies in authorized personnel benefits. This applies to all Government Agencies, the petition-letter says.

Another reason given by the concerned PNP officials is the fact that all promotions of PNP personnel are affirmed by the Civil Service Commission through issuance of attestation. This space is open for VCEO Bernardo’s reply on the issues raised against him by the senior PNP officials.