THE National Police Commission (Napolcom) is pushing for stricter screening of aspiring police officers and criminologists, emphasizing character, values, and fitness to serve of police applicants.
At a news conference held at the Napolcom Central Office in Quezon City on Monday, following the presentation of a criminology intern who was photographed riding a motorcycle without a helmet, the Commissioner Rafael R. Calinisan warned applicants against committing abuse early their careers.
‘It is our job to screen and provide the best police officers to the Filipino nation. Just anyone cannot be a police officer. In fact, we should expand the screening process,’ he said.
He warned that inadequate screening and values formation can become problems for the National Police (PNP).
‘Hindi ito tungkol lang sa traffic violation. Tungkol ito sa character ng isang tao, sa values niya, at sa fitness niyang maglingkod at magprotekta sa taumbayan,’ Calinisan stressed.
He questioned why authorities should wait for an abusive individual to become a police officer before acting on warning signs that could have been identified during background investigations.
‘Are we going to wait for an abusive person to become a police officer before we take action? Or should we act now and teach them what needs to be taught? Make them complete, not just in the mind, but also in soul,’ he said, calling for stronger values formation in criminology schools and closer scrutiny of review centers.
He also warned against aspiring law enforcers who mistake the uniform, rank insignia, and firearm for symbols of power rather than reminders of responsibility.
Meanwhile, Calinisan welcomed Philippine College of Criminology (PCCR) President Lei Bautista’s support for reforms, saying their discussions in recent months had focused on improving criminology education, school policies, curricula, and values formation.
‘I’m very happy that the PCCR is here, that the PCCR President has been espousing reforms. Sa totoo lang, for the past months, wala kaming pinag-usapan ni President Lei Bautista kundi reporma sa criminology, reporma sa eskwelahan, reporma sa dapat ituro, at pati ang values kasama.’
Describing the incident as a minor setback, Calinisan urged students to obey the law even before entering law enforcement.
‘Let this be a reminder to the students: If you want to be a police officer, follow the law. Don’t be mischievous and act like a troublemaker while you’re still young.’ he said, emphasizing that Napolcom would scrutinize applicants from the recruitment stage. ‘I think we owe it to the Filipino people,’ he added.
Bautista affirmed PCCR’s commitment to reform and collaboration with Napolcom. She said the school has policies to address student violations, including the helmet requirement in its student handbook, and acts promptly when incidents arise.
‘If you want to join law enforcement, you should really practice obeying the law as early as school,’ she said, as she reminded students that obedience to the law must begin in school.
The intern, meanwhile, has expressed remorse and urged fellow criminology students, particularly those who resist discipline, to change their ways.