Marcos asked to resolve PNP, AFP promotion issue
OFFICIALS of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) have sought the help of President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ E. Marcos Jr. in addressing their gripes over the much-delayed approval of their promotion papers.
“We’re appealing to the Commander-in-Chief to personally intervene and instruct all concerned officials to speed up the release of our promotion papers which have long been delayed for reasons known only to other high-ranking officials of the government,” said a security official who spoke to the Journal Group on condition of anonymity.
Other sources said that apart from officials of the PNP and the AFP whose loyalty to the Constitution and duly-constituted authorities cannot be questioned, there has also been a recorded delay in the release of appointment and promotion papers of even members of the judiciary triggering demoralization among the ranks of lawyers and judges apart from those from the police and the military.
In Camp Crame, there is already a widespread demoralization among 2nd and 3rd-Level Officials whose promotion papers have been delayed as early as late last year.
Sources said that the National Police Commission has questioned the ‘excess ranks’ in the 228,000-strong police force although the PNP leadership has fully explained the matter during a series of consultative meetings with Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary and concurrent Napolcom chairman Benjamin ‘Benhur’ C. Abalos Jr. and Napolcom Vice-Chairman and Executive Officer Alberto A. Bernardo.
Following a meeting between DILG-Napolcom officials and officers of the PNP last September, the Napolcom issued Resolution No. 2023-1303 ‘clarifying the process for promotions of police officers designated to 3rd-Level Positions with the rank of Police Brigadier General up to Police Lieutenant General duly created by law.’
It cited Section 6, Article XVI of the Philippine Constitution and Section 14 (a) of Republic Act No. 6975 as amended by Section 5 of RA 8551 which says that the PNP shall be administered and controlled by the Napolcom.
RA 6975 created the PNP in 1990 while RA 8551 is the PNP Reform and Reorganization Act of 1998.
Section 29 of RA 6975 created ‘Key Positions’ in the police force and their corresponding ranks starting from the PNP chief with the rank of Director General or General and the PNP Deputy Chief for Administration, Deputy Chief for Operations and PNP The Chief Directorial Staff with the rank of Lieutenant General.
It also says that the heads of the various staff divisions in the PNP Directorial Staff shall have the rank of Director or Major General; the head of the Inspectorate Division with the rank of Chief Superintendent or Brigadier General; and the heads of the administrative and operational support divisions shall have the rank of Chief Superintendent.
On the other hand, Section 35 of RA 8551 as amended pertains to the presence of different PNP National Administrative and Operational Support Units including the Crime Laboratory, Logistics Unit, Communications Unit, Computer Center, Finance Center and Civil Security Group as well as the Intelligence Unit, Police Security Unit, Maritime Police Unit, Intelligence Unit, Criminal Investigation Unit, Special Action Force, Narcotics Units, Aviation Security Unit, Traffic Management Unit, the Medical and Dental Centers and the Civil Relations Unit.
The same section also says that ‘to enhance police operational efficiency and effectiveness, the chief of the PNP may constitute other support units as may be necessary subjected ot the approval of the Commission provided that no support unit headed by a chief superintendent or a higher rank can be created unless provided by law.’
Last September 2023, the Napolcom sought guidance from the Office of the President as to the proper course of action to be undertaken by the Napolcom with regard to promotions of police officers designated to positions with the rank of Brigadier General up to Lieutenant General which were created or upgraded through Napolcom issuances in the past.
Last October 11, the Napolcom issued a resolution which says that the promotion of officers designated to 3rd-Level Positions with the rank of Brigadier General up to Lieutenant General which were duly created by law shall continue to be processed in the usual manner and procedure pending the request of guidance from the OP.
Abalos, vice chairperson and Executive Officer, Commissioner Bernardo and his fellow Commissioners Edliberto DC Leonardo, Ricardo P. Bernabe II and PNP chief General Benjamin C. Acorda Jr., who is an Ex-Officio Commissioner of the body, signed the resolution.
The October 11 resolution means that the promotion to Lieutenant General of PNP The Chief Directorial Staff Major Gen. Emmanuel B. Peralta; the promotion to Major General of PNP Director for Comptrollership Brig. Gen. Rommel Francisco D. Marbil; PNP Director for Operations Brig. Gen. Leo M. Francisco; National Capital Region Police Office director Brig. Gen. Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr.; and PNP Director for Human Resource and Doctrine Development Brig. Gen. Ronald O. Lee; and the promotion to Brigadier General of PNP Information Technology Management Service director Colonel Jerich T. Royales; PNP Intelligence Group director Col. Romeo J. Macapaz; and Police Security and Protection Group director,Col. Rogelio P. Simon will be processed.
However, there is still no word on the promotion of the above-named officials, among them Maj. Gen. Peralta who has been the PNP’s 4th highest official over the past five months.
Over 100 PNP 2nd-Level and 3rd-Level Officials have been recommended for promotion to the next higher rank by the PNP Senior Officers Placement and Promotion Board as early as January this year.
