MORE administrative and operational changes in the Philippine National Police (PNP) headed by General Rodolfo S. Azurin Jr. are forthcoming as the House Committee on Public Order and Safety chaired by Laguna (1st District) Representative Dan S. Fernandez has approved the proposed reorganization plan of the police force, the Journal Group learned yesterday.

According to PNP Director for Plans, Major Gen. Bernard M. Banac, the House Committee on Public Order and Safety has adopted the report and draft bill prepared by Technical Working Group chairman, retired Police General-turned Antipolo City (2nd District) Rep. Romeo M. Acop.

“It will be presented during the plenary sessions of the House of Representatives. Hopefully, it will be categorized as Priority Bills and certified as urgent by both Houses,” said the official who has been praised by Gen. Azurin for his ‘miracle work’ in Congress.

A former PNP spokesperson and chief of its Public Information Office, Maj. Gen. Banac said they have received the full support of House Speaker Ferdinand Martin T. Romualdez and Senate President, Senator Jose Miguel ‘Migz’ F. Zubiri in their bid to further reform the 227,000-strong police force and improve its ‘move, shoot, communicate and investigate’ capabilities under the administration of President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ R. Marcos Jr.

Also a former PNP Training Service director who became a Police Regional Office 8 director in Eastern Visayas, Banac added that Senate President Zubiri had informed them that the proposed bill will be studied and reviewed by a Senate committee chaired by former PNP chief-turned Senator Ronald ‘Bato’ M. dela Rosa.

The proposed PNP Reorganization Plan calls for the adaptation of the current structure of the Philippine National Police (PNP) including the pay and allowances of PNP personnel, amending for the purpose Sections 25,26,29,30,31,35, 36 and 67 of Republic Act No. 6975 otherwise known as the ‘Department of the Interior and Local Government Act of 1990,’ as amended and Section 32 or RA No. 8551 otherwise known as the Philippine National Police Reform and Reorganization Act of 1998 and appropriating funds therefor.

Section 25 of RA 6975 will be amended as follows: The PNP shall be composed of a national office, Area Commands, Regional Offices, Provincial Offices, District Offices, City Offices and City or Municipal Stations.’

At the national level, Chief of the PNP shall have a Command Group composed of the Offices of the Deputy Chief of the PNP for Administration, the Deputy Chief of the PNP for Operations, and The Chief of the Directorial Staff.

The National Office shall have a National Administrative and Operational Support Units and Special Police Offices. In Clustered Police Regional Offices, the PNP shall have Area Police Commands.

At the regional level, the PNP shall have Police regional offices, including that of the National Capital Region Police Office which may be divided into two separate regions, without prejudice to the pertinent provisions of the Organic Act of the Autonomous Regions of the Cordilleras and Muslim Mindanao relative to the creation of a Police Regional Office in the area of autonomy.

Police Regional Offices shall be headed by Regional Directors.

At the metropolitan level, there shall be a District Office each headed by a District Director.

At the provincial level, there shall be a Police Provincial Office, each headed by a Provincial Director. In the case of large provinces, police districts may be established by the Commission to be headed by a District Director.

At the Highly-Urbanized and Independent Component City Level, there shall be a City Police Office, each headed by a City Director.

At the Component City or Municipal Level, there shall be a Police Station each headed by a chief of police.

As proposed, the Chief of the PNP shall, within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of the Act and in accordance with the broad guidelines set forth herein, recommend the organization structure and staffing pattern of the PNP to the Commission.