PNP officers on standby during the inauguration and blessing of the new Cubao Station in Quezon City. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/File  

MANILA – President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. has vetoed the proposed Philippine National Police (PNP) Organizational Reforms Act.

"While this administration recognizes the laudable objectives of the bill, I cannot approve it because the provisions run counter to administrative policy and efficiency," Marcos said in his veto message. 

He said he needed to ensure that the measure would deliver much-needed reforms; comply with the civil service laws, salary standardization policies, and base pay schedules; and conform with administrative budgetary policies.  

"In addition, the bill must be supportive of the programs and policy aspirations of the present and future administrations, among which is the proposed National Government Rightsizing Program." Marcos added.

He then went on to explain his misgivings over the bill, beginning with potential distortions in pay due to the initiative to elevate the status of Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) Cadets to that of Police Cadets with entry-level remuneration. 

“The grant of Salary Grade 21 to PNPA Cadets will distort the base pay schedule of the Military and Uniformed Personnel (MUP) by creating disparity among the several government cadetship programs. At any rate, the grant is visibly higher than the base pay the cadets will receive after graduation and appointment as Police Lieutenants," the President said.

He added the bill institutionalizes offices without considering functional relationships and clarifying reporting lines, despite the government's rightsizing policy to prevent overlapping functions and redundancies.

"Different offices performing the same or related functions, all headed by high-ranking officials, will definitely be counterproductive and will defeat the purpose of enhancing the span of supervision and administrative control of the PNP Chief,” Marcos said. 

“Instead of coordinated working relationships, the result may be bureaucratic inefficiencies. We cannot allow the organization to be bloated and overstaffed with the creation of redundant, overlapping, and ambiguous offices," he said.

The President also objected to the creation of 2 separate liaison offices that would each be headed by a Police Brigadier General under the bill. He said this was "plainly unwarranted."

Meanwhile, the placement under the National Operational Support Units of the Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group intended to go after officers involved in illegal activities could lead to questions about its independence.

He said the bill failed to add significant measures that would enhance the capability of the PNP leadership to implement integrity and accountability. 

"There can be no true reform if these issues are not prioritized," Marcos said. 

The President also flagged the possible encroachment by the  National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) into the Civil Service Commission’s (CSC) functions under the bill. 

He said the  administrative relationships among the CSC, interior department, and the PNP, including the procedures for disciplinary measures, were not clear. 

Finally, the president objected to the provision on the retroactive application of the bill for being ambiguous and vague. 

"It needs clarifications and omits comprehensible standards. For instance, what are the rights and benefits contemplated and how can the rights and benefits be retroactively applied to individuals who had already been separated from service? The provision may breed confusion," he said.

“With all due respect to Congress, this bill should not be a missed opportunity to implement genuine transformative reforms that will allow the PNP to be more effective and efficient in the performance of its mandate to maintain peace and order, protect lives, and ensure public safety. In view of these considerations, I am constrained to veto the above-mentioned Enrolled Bill," he said.

‘DISHEARTENING’

Meanwhile, former PNP chief and now Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, who pushed for the legislation, said he was disheartened by the veto.

 “I passionately shepherded this PNP/ DILG-endorsed bill by highlighting its urgency. Our partner agencies as well as my colleagues in Congress acknowledged that same urgency… And yet, today, it seems the final word is a refusal to acknowledge that urgency,” he said in a statement.   

“The irony is not lost on me, and it is precisely that irony that is so disheartening.” 

Dela Rosa said efforts of the concerned parties who worked on the bill went to naught. 

“Malungkot man sabihin pero tila nasayang ang pagod at hirap, hindi lamang ng Kongreso, kundi pati na rin ng DILG, NAPOLCOM, at PNP sa pagbalangkas ng PNP Organizational Reform Bill. Dalangin ko na hindi sila mawalan ng motibasyon para magpatuloy sa pag-alalay sa Senado, lalo na sa pagpapanukala ng mga batas na makapagpapabuti sa kalagayan ng ating mga kapulisan,” he said. 

The measure sought to amend the Philippine National Police Reforms and Reorganizational Act of 1998.

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