Question & AnswerQ&A (NAPOLCOM MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR NO. 2010-003)
The Circular aims to enhance police discipline and ensure adherence to professional conduct among PNP members by establishing guidelines for the Delinquency Reporting System and institutionalizing community service as an integral component thereof.
All officers and non-officers of the Philippine National Police (PNP) are covered by this Memorandum Circular.
Community Service refers to tasks, duties, and responsibilities rendered by offending police personnel assigned at Municipal or City Police Stations or Police District Offices, administered by the local government units or respective PNP Directors, excluding inhumane, immoral, or illegal activities.
The maximum allowable demerits are fifteen (15) demerits per month or ninety (90) demerits per semester.
For every demerit in excess of the allowable number, the personnel must render one (1) hour of community service.
Examples include Unauthorized or improper wearing of uniforms (5 demerits), Tardiness in reporting for duty (5 demerits), Smoking in non-designated areas (5 demerits), Spitting or littering in public areas (7 demerits), and Leaving post for more than two minutes (15 demerits).
Any person witnessing an infraction committed by a police officer can fill out a delinquency report form available at the nearest police precinct, stating details of the infraction.
The Administrative Officer notifies the accused personnel, who must submit a written explanation within 24 hours. The Chief of Office then makes a disposition within five days, either accepting the explanation or awarding appropriate demerits.
At the city, town, or municipality level, the community service is administered by the Mayor or authorized representative; at higher levels, it is administered by the Director of the PPO, PRO, or NSU concerned or delegated to the local government unit.
Excessive demerits can result in a Poor Performance Evaluation Rating, recommendation for training, consideration as an aggravating circumstance in disciplinary action, and affecting reassignment or transfer decisions.