QuestionsQuestions (PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 1184)
PD 1184 is titled the “Integrated National Police Personnel Professionalization Law of 1977.” It declares the policy to establish a comprehensive personnel development program to maintain a competent INP that is efficient, professional, and loyal to the public interest.
The police ranks are: Police Brigadier General, Police Colonel, Police Lieutenant Colonel, Police Major, Police Captain, Police Lieutenant, Police Sergeant, Police Corporal, Patrolman/Patrolwoman First Class, and Patrolman/Patrolwoman. Fire ranks mirror these with “Fire” prefixes: Fire Brigadier General, Fire Colonel, Fire Lieutenant Colonel, Fire Major, Fire Captain, Fire Lieutenant, Fire Sergeant, Fire Corporal, Fireman First Class, and Fireman.
At least one policeman for every one thousand inhabitants.
One fireman for every two thousand inhabitants.
It provides a maximum percentage distribution per rank category (e.g., Brigadier General .03%, Colonel .17%, Lieutenant Colonel .40%, etc., with Patrolman/Fireman First Class 25.60% and Patrolman/Fireman 49.00%). Actual authorized numbers are also governed by the Table of Organization approved by the Secretary of National Defense.
The appointee must be: (1) a Philippine citizen; (2) of good habits and moral conduct; (3) of sound mind and body; (4) at least a high school graduate for the lowest rank (and for city station assignment, at least second year college); (5) not dishonorably discharged/dismissed for cause; (6) with no criminal record; (7) age at least 21 and not more than 30 for the lowest rank; (8) within required height standards (including separate requirements for policewomen); and (9) within the required weight/height/age/sex standard. Certain requirements may be waived in exigencies as provided.
For Police/Fire Sergeant: two years college or seventy-three college units (academic and non-academic). For Police/Fire Lieutenant up to Police/Fire Colonel: a bachelor's degree. Satisfactory work experience plus completion of appropriate prescribed training may be treated as equivalent for promotion purposes.
At least 40 years old; either a member of the Philippine Bar OR a chartered city chief of police eligible OR completion of graduate study in public/police administration OR a B.S. Criminology (with an advanced law-enforcement course or equivalent recognized); at least ten years executive/command/staff experience in police/constabulary; and at least one year satisfactorily served as Police Colonel on permanent status.
At least 40 years old; either a bachelor’s degree in relevant engineering science (hydraulics, chemistry, structures, electricity, machines, etc.) OR civil service eligibility for chief of fire department of chartered city, plus an advanced course/equivalent in fire prevention and suppression recognized by the proper bodies; at least ten years executive/command/staff experience in fire service; and at least one year satisfactorily served as Fire Colonel on permanent status.
In addition to general qualifications by rank, the person must have specific engineering/science degrees or courses tied to inspection functions: Electrical Engineering; Mechanical Engineering; Chemistry/Chemical Engineering; Civil Engineering/Architecture; or appropriate technical courses related to fire technology/protection/safety. Existing personnel lacking qualifications may continue but must undergo special training.
The Director General must establish screening committees in provincial/district/regional headquarters to disseminate vacancies and determine merit and fitness among qualified applicants through: panel interview, physical-medical examination, appropriate police service written examination, and psychological and/or neuro-psychiatric test. No appointment is made without recommendation of the screening committee.
Lateral entry is allowed to certain categories: (a) persons with special educational qualifications in technical fields needed by the service (engineers, doctors, nurses, lawyers, penologists, forensic scientists for the crime laboratory); (b) former Chiefs/Deputy Chiefs of Police and certain custodial service/fire service personnel whose positions were reclassified or pending reclassification; and (c) graduates of the Philippine National Police Academy to be established.
From Patrolman to Police Sergeant and Fireman to Fire Sergeant: Zone/Regional Directors as recommended by Police Superintendents. From Police Lieutenant to Police Colonel and Fire Lieutenant to Fire Colonel: Director General as recommended by Zone/Regional Directors. Police Brigadier General and Fire Brigadier General: appointed by the President as recommended by the Director General through the Secretary of National Defense.
Temporary appointment is for absence of appropriate eligibles and service exigency, issued to one who meets rank/position requirements except the appropriate eligibility; it must not exceed 12 months and the appointee may be replaced if a qualified eligible becomes available. Permanent appointment is for those who meet all requirements including eligibility, and requires a probationary period of at least one year; the Director General may drop a probationer before probation ends for unsatisfactory conduct/performance following rules approved by the Secretary of National Defense.
Women may be appointed for specific assignments (youth aid/juvenile control, jail matrons, training/administrative duties, and certain police operations involving female or youth offenders). Nationwide or per command/unit, the total number of female members shall not exceed 5% of total strength.
All appointments (and promotions) referred to in Sec. 14(a) and (b) must be forwarded to the National Police Commission for attestation. The Commission must disapprove within 90 days if appointees lack qualifications/eligibility. Appointees may still assume duties immediately and receive salaries/benefits until a final notice of disapproval.
A member is not eligible for promotion unless he/she successfully passed the corresponding promotional exam by the National Police Commission or passed the bar exam or satisfactorily completed an appropriate accredited course from the Philippine National Police Academy. When a vacancy occurs, the next-in-rank member who is competent/qualified and has the appropriate police/fire service eligibility must be promoted; ties favor seniority; reasons for non-promotion must be stated in writing and the member must be given an opportunity to be heard. If not filled by promotion, it is filled by transfer from other units.
Compulsory retirement is automatic and compulsory upon reaching: age 60 for Police/Fire Lieutenant and higher; age 55 for Patrolman/Fireman up to Police/Fire Sergeant. A transition period applies starting Jan. 1, 1978: the compulsory retirement age for Patrolman/Fireman up to Police/Fire Sergeant becomes 60; and every year thereafter, retirement ages for the higher rank groups are reduced by one year until the stated ages are reached.
Sec. 40: injured/contracted in line of duty receive full pay during disability and reimbursement/coverage of medical expenses and a lump sum gratuity (100 to 2,000 pesos) depending on merits; absence is not charged to leave. Sec. 41: if killed/dies in line of duty, surviving spouse or dependent legitimate children receive a gratuity equivalent to one year’s salary (minimum 6,000), burial expenses (equivalent to three months’ salary, minimum 1,000), and a pension equivalent to 80% of deceased’s salary (with stated caps). Permanent total disability similarly entitles to a one-year salary gratuity (min 6,000) and lifetime pension at 80% of last salary. Sec. 42: compensation is exempt from attachment/levy/execution and from any tax, and claims under the article do not prescribe.