A proposed Philippine National Police Reorganization Plan approved by the House of Representatives will pave the way for the renaming of PNP position titles amid the Congress move to fully empower the PNP chief in supervising the 227,000-storng force’s campaign against insurgency, terrorism and other internal security threats, the Journal Group learned yesterday.

As proposed, Section 29 of Republic Act No. 6975 otherwise known as the Department of Interior and Local Government Act of 1990 will be amended in which the head of the PNP shall have the position title of Chief of the PNP with the rank of Police General.

The second in command of the PNP shall have the position title of Deputy Chief of the PNP for Administration with the rank of Police Lieutenant General while the 3rd in command shall have the position title of Deputy Chief of the PNP for Operations with the rank also of Police Lieutenant General.

At the national office, the head of the Directorial Staff shall have the position title of the Chief of the Directorial Staff with the rank of Police Lieutenant General and shall be assisted by a Secretary to the Directorial Staff with the rank of Police Brigadier General.

The heads of the various staff divisions in the directorial staff shall have the position title of Director of their respective Directorial Staff with the rank of Police Major General. They shall be assisted by a Deputy Director and Executive Officer, both with the rank of Police Brigadier General.

On the other hand, the head of the Inspectorate Division with the rank of Chief Superintendent shall assume the position title of Inspector General while the heads of the national administrative and operational support units shall have the rank of Police Brigadier General or higher.

The heads of the Area Police Commands shall have the position title of Commander with the rank of Police Lieutenant General and shall be assisted by a Deputy Command and Chief of Staff, both with the rank of Police Brigadier General.

 

The heads of Special Police Offices shall have the position title of chief of their respective office with the rank of Police Brigadier General and shall be assisted by an assistant chief with the rank of Police Colonel.

The heads of the National Capital Region Police Office shall have the position of NCRPO Regional Director with the rank of Police Major General and shall be assisted by a Deputy Regional Director for Administration, Deputy Regional Director for Operations and Chief of Regional Staff, all with the rank of Police Brigadier General.

The heads of the other Police Regional Offices shall have the position title of Regional Director with the rank of Police Brigadier General and shall be assisted by a Deputy Regional Director for Administration with the rank of Police Brigadier General and a Deputy Regional Director for Operations and Chief of Regional Staff, both with the rank of Police Colonel.

Meanwhile, the heads of the NCR Police Districts established in the NCR and in other metropolitan areas shall have the position title of District Director with the rank of Police Brigadier General and shall be assisted by a Deputy District Director for Administration and Operations and Chief of Staff, all with the rank of Police Colonel.

The heads of Police Provincial Offices shall have the position title of Provincial Director with the rank of Police Colonel while the heads of City Police Offices shall have the position title of City Director with the rank of Police Colonel.

At the same time, the heads of the Police Districts established by the National Police Commission in large provinces shall have the position title of District Director with the rank of Police Lieutenant Colonel while the heads of the Police Stations in the municipality or city office level shall have the position title of Chief of Police with the rank of at least Police Captain in the former and Police Major in the latter.

Under the proposed PNP Reorganization Plan, the five existing Area Police Commands will be fully empowered to help support the chief of the PNP in supervising the 227,000-strong force’s campaign against insurgency, terrorism and other internal security threats, the Journal Group learned yesterday.

As proposed, a new Section 25-B will be inserted in Republic Act No. 6975 otherwise known as the Department of the Interior and Local Government Act of 1990 in order to enhance the control of the Chief of the PNP in the country.

It says that Area Police Commands shall be established in Clustered Police Regional Offices. The APC shall orchestrate, supervise and control the conduct of inter-regional operations against insurgency, terrorism and other internal security threats.

Further, the APC shall likewise conduct search, rescue and relief operations in times and calamities and other emergency situations within their respective areas of jurisdiction.

Finally, the APC shall support the Police Regional Offices in the conduct of inter-reigonal anti-criminal operations and investigation.

For this purpose, the APCs shall have administrative and operational control over the existing Regional Mobile Force Battalions within their respective areas of responsibility subject to the exercise of the power of delegation of authority of the Chief of the PNP and strict compliance to the doctrine of Chain of Command.

Initially, five APCS shall be activated namely Northern Luzon Area Police Command, Southern Luzon Area Police Command, Visayas Area Police Command, Eastern Mindanao Area Police Command and Western Mindanao Area Police Command.

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, PNP Director for Plans, Major Gen. Bernard M. Banac told the Journal Group.

According to the official, 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 PNP chief, General Rodolfo S. Azurin Jr. for his ‘miracle work’ in Congress.

Maj. Gen. Banac, a former PNP spokesperson who also became a PNP Training Service director and Police Regional Office 8 commander in Eastern Visayas said they have gotten 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.

The proposed PNP Reorganization Plan calls for the adaptation of the current structure of the Philippine National Police 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