Legal basis and incorporated standards
- Section 33 of Republic Act No. 8551 provides the statutory authority for special promotion based on acts of conspicuous courage and gallantry, validated by the Commission based on established criteria.
- Section 38(b) of Republic Act No. 6975, as amended by Section 33 of Republic Act No. 8551, establishes the promotion mandate for a uniformed PNP member who exhibited such acts at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty, subject to validation by the Commission.
- NAPOLCOM Memorandum Circular No. 98-012 prescribes the two validated acts of conspicuous courage and gallantry that qualify for the basis of special promotion.
- NAPOLCOM Memorandum Circular No. 98-03 and NAPOLCOM Memorandum Circular No. 93-018 are referenced for applicable standards and procedures.
Policy and objectives of the Circular
- The Circular establishes guidelines and procedures for the submission, processing, and evaluation of applications/recommendations for special promotion.
- It authorizes the PNP Special Promotions, Awards and Decorations Board (SPADB) to evaluate applications properly and objectively.
- It aims to inspire and promote heroism, dedication, hard work, devotion to duty, and active involvement in public service among PNP uniformed personnel.
- It ensures fairness and consistency in granting special promotion or appropriate awards to deserving personnel.
- It institutionalizes prompt recognition and provides policy for grants of special promotion under Section 33 of RA 8551, as validated by NAPOLCOM Memo Circular No. 98-012.
Definitions and qualifying concepts
- Special promotion is a promotion to the next higher rank or position under Section 33 of RA 8551, validated under the applicable NAPOLCOM guidance and satisfying the Circular’s criteria.
- Promotion is the conferment to the next higher rank with the corresponding increase in salary and pay.
- Personala bravery means extreme courage or resoluteness shown by a specific person while alone or with a group while tackling a physically existing danger, risk, or difficulty.
- Courage refers to fearlessness and determination, whether physical, mental, or moral, against a wide range of difficulties or dangers.
- Self-sacrifice means giving up personal interest for a higher sense of duty to benefit others; it is synonymous with altruism, selflessness, self-denial, and martyrdom.
- Above and beyond the call of duty means a voluntary, conscientious, civic, and legally interfering undertaking not demanded anymore by a police officer’s basic tasks, characterized by the necessity to save life and property and urged by one’s sense of righteousness.
- Conspicuous means visible, obvious, striking, prominent, and distinct.
- More than ordinary hazardous service is an act characterized by an extremely dangerous situation threatening life and limb.
- Involving risk of life so extraordinary is a life-and-death threatening situation in an actual confrontation or encounter with armed lawless elements, with risk that is real, definite, and tangible.
- Act of heroism or heroic act means acts of conspicuous courage and gallantry at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty.
Eligibility basis and governing principles
- Special promotion is governed by Section 38(b) of RA 6975, as amended by Section 33 of RA 8551, which mandates promotion to the next higher rank for a PNP uniformed member who exhibited acts of conspicuous courage and gallantry at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty, provided the acts are validated by the Commission based on established criteria.
- NAPOLCOM Memorandum Circular No. 98-012 requires that validated acts fall under either:
- a deed of personal bravery and self-sacrifice above and beyond the call of duty, so conspicuous as to distinguish the person clearly above comrades in performance of more than ordinary hazardous service; or
- an act of heroism in the face of an armed enemy, so notable and involving a risk of life so extraordinary as to set the person apart from comrades.
- The grant process must be timely: recommendations should be coursed through proper channels and acted upon as quickly as possible; if complete documentation is unavailable, the submission must be made with what is on hand, with notice that additional data/information will be submitted later, and actions by intermediate offices/board and the final approving authority must be expeditious.
- The Board must prevent double promotion/award based on a single accomplishment by determining whether the heroic feat or accomplishment for consideration was made the basis of a previous promotion.
- A grantee who lacks the appropriate eligibility and education requirement must be extended a temporary appointment, renewable every year until the grantee acquires the required eligibility and/or educational attainment.
- No special promotion may be granted to a PNP uniformed person holding a temporary appointment unless the appointment is made permanent.
- No special promotion may be granted based on an administrative accomplishment.
- Experience and training requirements do not apply in granting special promotion.
- If a person already has been regularly promoted and is pending special promotion consideration in the previous rank and qualifies under the qualifying acts, the person must be considered for the highest possible award, and seniority must be adjusted upward by as many places as the Board determines in the PNP Seniority Lineal list.
- The nominee may file a motion for reconsideration with the SPADB within fifteen (15) days from receipt of the Notice of Decision when the decision is adverse.
- The SPADB’s subsequent decision on the motion for reconsideration must be appealable to the Chief, PNP within fifteen (15) days, and the decision becomes final and executory.
Application processing and approval flow
- The Circular requires Chiefs of Police, PPMG Directors, and NSU Provincial Officers to, within 15 days from the occurrence of the heroic act, submit an After Operation Report with the recommendation and complete supporting documents to the Provincial Directors and NSU Regional Officers, respectively.
- Provincial Directors and NSU Regional Officers must initially process and evaluate the After Operations Reports submitted to them, and within 15 days must submit their own report and recommendation to the Regional Directors and NSU Directors.
- Regional Directors and NSU Directors, upon receipt of the reports, must direct the Chairman of the Regional SPADB and NSU SPADB to convene and process/evaluate the reports.
- If a Regional SPADB or NSU SPADB finds the accomplishment merits an award lower than Medalya ng Katapangan, it must recommend such finding to its respective Director.
- An approved RESOLUTION is required before issuance of orders.
- If the Regional SPADB or NSU SPADB finds the accomplishment merits Medalya ng Katapangan or higher or merits recommendation for special promotion, it must recommend as such to the Regional Director and NSU Director, and a duly endorsed RESOLUTION is required before submission to the SPADB.
- The Regional SPADB and NSU SPADB must complete the entire process within 15 days.
- The SPADB may create a Sub-Board chaired by THRDD as Chairman, with DDPRM, DDI, DDO, and C, PTD as members, to initially evaluate merits.
- If the Sub-Board finds the requirements are complete in substance and form, it must place the recommendation on the SPADB agenda.
- Recommendations deemed below the standards of the qualifying acts (as required by the Circular’s governing basis) must be remanded to the concerned Regional Director and NSU Director for appropriate action.
- During plenary deliberation, the SPADB Secretariat must furnish the Chairman and members a folder of nominees at least two (2) days before the meeting for advanced appreciation; recommendations for special promotions must be taken up first, followed by awards.
- The SPADB must evaluate each nominee individually by actual participation and must measure the act against the criteria under Section 33 of RA 8551 and pertinent NAPOLCOM Resolutions.
- A group or mass nomination for the same accomplishment must not be entertained.
- The SPADB shall, as far as practicable, require personal appearance of the nominee for clarification and interview.
- Each SPADB member must cast a vote in the provided form, recommending or not recommending special promotion; a short explanation may be written if desired.
- The SPADB Secretariat must collect voting forms, count them immediately, and a simple majority is sufficient to carry the motion.
- In case of a tie, the Chairman must break the tie.
- The results must be announced immediately after counting, and the voting forms must become part of the records of deliberation.
- The SPADB Secretariat must prepare the appropriate Resolution for signature of the Chairman and members before recommending to the C, PNP for approval.
- After approval by the C, PNP, the Secretariat must immediately prepare the transmittal letter to NAPOLCOM for the Chairman’s signature.
- After NAPOLCOM validation, DPRM must:
- attest the appointment to the next higher rank;
- issue the promotion order;
- change computer service entries for adjustment of pay and allowances;
- update rank and make corresponding adjustments in the Seniority Lineal list; and
- issue a new ID card.
Documentary requirements for special promotion
- The Circular requires submission of the following documents to the SPADB Secretariat:
- an After Operation Report/After Incident Report;
- a Case Operation Plan/Operation Plan;
- a Deliberation Report and Resolution from the Regional, NSU, or equivalent specially created unit;
- a Recommendation of the Regional Director, NSU Director, or Director of the specially created unit;
- an Affidavit of individual participation describing in detail the nominee’s specific heroic act, duly subscribed/sworn to;
- an Affidavit of at least two (2) eyewitnesses, subscribed and sworn; if no eyewitness can attest, the affidavit of the immediate superior officer may be admitted, but the affidavit must focus on the nominee’s heroic act and must be subjected to validation by DI;
- an updated and properly accomplished PDS of the nominee; and
- the latest attestation appointment.
SPADB composition and operational roles
- At the NHQ level, the PNP SPADB is composed of:
- Deputy Chief PNP for Operations — Chairman
- Director, DHRDD — Vice Chairman
- Deputy, DPRM — Member
- Deputy, DI — Member
- Deputy, DO — Member
- Deputy, DPL — Member
- Deputy, DPCR — Member
- Deputy, DIDM — Member
- Deputy, DL — Member
- Deputy, DRD — Member
- Deputy, DC — Member
- Chief, PTD, rvODPRM — Member/Recorder
- C, Awards & Incentives Sec., PTD — Member/Head, Secretariat
- Chief, Executive Senior Police Officer — Member
- Senior Policewoman PCO Rep — Member
- Senior Lawyer Rep from LS — Member
- At the NSU and RHQs and equivalent specially created units level, the SPADB is composed of:
- DRDO — Chairman
- C, RPHRDD — Vice Chairman
- C, RIID — Member
- C, RCD — Member
- C, ROPD — Member
- C, RLD — Member
- C, RPCRD — Member
- C, RWCCDO — Member
- C, RLS — Member
- C, PTS — Member/Secretary
- RESPO — Member
Time limits and finality rules
- All applications for special promotion must be submitted through channels to the SPADB within one (1) year from the time of occurrence of the heroic accomplishment applied for.
- Failure to file the application to the SPADB within the specified one (1) year period without justifiable reason must result in the application no longer being entertained.
Recission and inconsistency control
- All other publications inconsistent with the Circular are rescinded and/or modified accordingly.