Creation of Board of Examiners for Criminologists

Board creation and appointment

Section 1 creates a Board of Examiners for Criminologists composed of a Chairman and two members.
Board members must possess the qualifications in Section 3 and are appointed by the President of the Philippines upon the recommendation of the Commissioner of Civil Service, from among registered criminologists if any, or from known criminologists of recognized standing.
Appointments require the consent of the Commission on Appointments under Section 1.
The first Board is issued certificate(s) of registration as criminologists without prior examination in accordance with Republic Act No. 6506 under Section 1.

Powers and duties of the Board

Section 2 vests the Board with authority to administer Republic Act No. 6506.
Section 2 empowers the Board to issue, suspend, or revoke a certificate of registration for the practice of criminology.
Section 2 empowers the Board to administer oaths.

Qualifications, term, removal, compensation

Section 3 requires Board members to be:
- Natural-born citizens of the Philippines;
- Holders of B.S. Criminology (B.S. Crim.) or M. Criminology (M. Crim.) from a reputable and legally constituted college or institute recognized by Government;
- At least thirty (30) years of age;
- Registered criminologists with at least ten (10) years experience in the profession (registration requirements do not apply to appointments to the first Board);
- Non-members of the Faculty of any school, college, or institute where a regular course in criminology is taught, and without any pecuniary interest in such institution; and
- Not connected with any government agency that operates an academy, training school, or institute for the education or training of peace officers or law enforcement agents.
Section 4 sets the Board members’ term at three (3) years after appointment unless removed earlier under Section 6.
Section 4 provides that a successor is appointed immediately, is duly qualified, and serves only the unexpired term.
Section 4 requires each member to qualify by taking the proper oath of office prior to performing duties.
Section 6 allows the President to remove a Board member for neglect of duty, incompetency, or unprofessional or dishonorable conduct, after giving the member an opportunity to defend himself in the proper administrative investigation.
Section 7 sets compensation at not exceeding ten pesos (₱10.00) for each applicant examined.
Section 7 requires collection of fees by the officer designated by competent authority for the Civil Service Commission, and authorizes that officer to pay authorized Board expenses, including the compensation.

Executive officer, secretary, records, reporting

Section 5 designates the Commissioner of Civil Service as the executive officer of the Board.
Section 5 provides that the Commissioner of Civil Service conducts the examination given by the Board.
Section 5 states that the Secretary of all Boards of Examiners appointed under Republic Act No. 546 is also the Secretary of the Board of Examiners for Criminologists.
Section 5 mandates that all records and minutes of the Board’s deliberations, including examination papers, are kept by the Civil Service Commission under the direct custody of the Secretary.
Section 8 requires the Board to submit an annual report to the President after the close of each fiscal year, giving a detailed account of proceedings and making recommendations it deems necessary and proper.

Admission to practice and registration rules

Section 9 prohibits any person from practicing or offering to practice as a criminologist in the Philippines without first obtaining a certificate of registration from the Board.
Section 10 exempts registration for:
- Criminologists from other countries called in for consultations or for a special project related to criminology that does not require more than five (5) months’ residence in the Philippines in any twelve (12) months’ period, provided they are legally qualified to practice in their own state or country; and
- Foreigners employed as technical officers, professors, or consultants in special branches of criminology, if the President of the Philippines judges they are necessary and indispensable, provided they are internationally recognized experts and do not engage in private practice during their stay in the Philippines.
Section 11 requires that, except as specifically allowed by Republic Act No. 6506, all applicants must undergo an examination prior to registration.
Section 12 requires applicants seeking admission to examination (and a certificate) to establish to the Board’s satisfaction that they:
- Are at least eighteen (18) years of age and citizens of the Philippines;
- Have good moral character, certified by at least three (3) persons of good standing in the community where they reside;
- Have not been convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude; and
- Have graduated in criminology from a Government-recognized school, college, or institute after completing a four-year resident collegiate course leading to the degree Bachelor of Science in Criminology (B.S. Crim.).
Section 12 grants a transitional qualification: holders of a Bachelor of Laws degree may, within five (5) years after the approval of this Act, take the examination after completing at least ninety-four (94) units of criminology, law enforcement, police science, and penology subjects.
Section 13 authorizes the Board to conduct examinations in Manila, Baguio, Legaspi, Cebu, and Davao whenever practicable at least once a year, on working days and at places fixed by the Board with the approval of the Commissioner of Civil Service.
Section 13 requires publication and notice: written or printed notice must be published in newspapers and copies mailed to each candidate who filed his name and address with the Secretary, at least thirty (30) days prior to the examination date.

Examination scope, administration, and passing

Section 14 requires the examination to be written and to cover:
- Criminal Jurisprudence and Procedure — 20%
- Law Enforcement Administration — 20%
- Correctional Administration — 15%
- Criminalistics — 20%
- Criminal Sociology — 15%
- Ethics and Human Relations — 10%
Section 14 allows the Board, in its discretion, to change or revise the subjects if the Department of Education correspondsingly changes the curriculum for the Bachelor of Science in Criminology.
Section 14 authorizes the Board to give practical and field examinations in subjects it deems fit.
Section 15 sets the passing standard: a candidate passes if he obtains a general average of at least seventy-five percent (75%) and has no rating below fifty percent (50%) in any subject.
Section 16 requires the Board to report each candidate’s ratings to the Commissioner of Civil Service within ninety (90) days after the completion of the examination.

Oath, certificate issuance, transitional registration

Section 17 requires all successful candidates to take a professional oath before the Board or before any person authorized to administer oaths prior to entering practice.
Section 18 requires payment of the registration fee as provided in Republic Act No. 6506 before the Board issues a certificate of registration.
Section 18 requires the Board to issue the certificate to an applicant whom it opines has satisfactorily met all requirements.
Section 18 mandates certificate features:
- Full name of registrant;
- Serial numbers;
- Signed by all Board members;
- Attested by the Board Secretary; and
- Authenticated by the Board’s official seal.
Section 18 provides a special transitional rule: upon application filed within six (6) months after the approval of this Act, the Board must issue a certificate without examination to persons who:
- Graduated with the B.S. Crim.; and
- Practiced criminology for at least ten (10) years prior to the enactment of this Act.
Section 19 sets fees:
- Application fee for examination: fifty pesos (₱50).
- Registration fee: thirty pesos (₱30).

Revocation, appeal, reissue, and lost certificates

Section 20 authorizes the Board to revoke or suspend a certificate if the holder is found guilty of:
- Malpractice,
- Incompetency,
- Unprofessional conduct,
- Serious ignorance, or
- Gross negligence in the practice of criminology.
Section 20 requires due process: the Board must give the party concerned notice and hearing.
Section 20 requires surrender of the certificate to the Board after revocation or suspension.
Section 20 provides a right of appeal: the decision may be appealed within thirty (30) days to the President of the Philippines, whose decision is final.
Section 21 allows a new certificate after revocation:
- Only after the expiration of one (1) year from the date of revocation; and
- Only after payment of the required fee; and
- The Board may entertain the application for new certificate for reasons it deems sufficient.
Section 21 allows replacement for a lost, destroyed, or mutilated certificate, subject to Board rules and payment of a thirty pesos (₱30) fee.

Definitions and what constitutes practice

Section 22 defines a criminologist as any person who is a graduate of the criminology degree, passed the criminologists’ examination, and is registered as such by the Board.
Section 23 deems a person engaged in the practice of criminology when he holds himself out to the public in any of these capacities:
- As a professor, instructor, or teacher of criminology in any Government-recognized university, college, or school, teaching subjects including:
  - Law Enforcement Administration
  - Criminalistics
  - Correctional Administration
  - Criminal Sociology and allied subjects
  - Other technical specialized subjects in the criminology curriculum provided by the Department of Education;
- As a law enforcement administrator, executive, adviser, consultant, or agent in any Government or private agency;
- As a technician in dactyloscopy, ballistics, questioned documents, police photography, lie detection, forensic chemistry, and other scientific aspects of crime detection;
- As a correctional administrator, executive supervisor, worker, or officer in any correctional and penal institution;
- As a counselor, expert, adviser, researcher in any Government or private agency on any aspects of criminal research or project involving causes of crime, juvenile delinquency, treatment of offenders, police operations, law enforcement administration, scientific criminal investigation, or public welfare administration.

Privileges granted to certified criminologists

Section 24 grants that certified criminologists are exempt from taking any other entrance or qualifying Government or civil service examinations.
Section 24 provides that certified criminologists are considered civil service eligibles for these positions:
1. dactylographer
2. ballistician
3. questioned document examiner
4. correctional officer
5. law enforcement photographer
6. lie detection examiner
7. probation officer
8. agents in any law enforcement agency
9. security officer
10. criminal investigator
11. police laboratory technician
Section 24 makes certified criminologists eligible for appointment as Patrolman in chartered cities and municipalities, provided they possess the general qualifications for appointment stated in Section nine, Republic Act No. 4864.

Criminal penalties for unregistered practice

Section 25 imposes criminal liability on any person who:
- Holds himself out as a criminologist without being duly registered and certified under the Act; or
- Gives false or fraudulent evidence to the Board in connection with an examination; or
- Violates the Board’s rules and regulations on the practice of criminology in the Philippines.
Section 25 provides the penalty upon conviction as either:
- A fine of not less than two thousand pesos (₱2,000) nor more than ten thousand pesos (₱10,000), or
- Imprisonment for not less than one (1) year but not exceeding three (3) years, or
- Both fine and imprisonment, at the discretion of the court.

Repeal and effectivity

Section 26 repeals or modifies any laws, executive orders, administrative orders, or ordinances that contain inconsistent provisions.
Section 27 provides that Republic Act No. 6506 takes effect upon approval (July 01, 1972).