Title
PNP Waiver Guidelines for Initial Appointment
Law
Napolcom Memorandum Circular No. 2013-004
Decision Date
May 21, 2013
The NAPOLCOM Memorandum Circular No. 2013-004 establishes guidelines for waiving minimum age, height, and weight requirements for initial appointments to the Philippine National Police, allowing applicants with special skills or qualifications to be considered when qualified candidates fall below recruitment quotas.
waiver
initial appointment
uniformed component

Legal basis and policy intent

  • The waiver of age, height, and weight for initial appointment to the PNP is governed by Section 15 of Republic Act No. 8551, which allows waivers only when the number of qualified applicants falls below the minimum annual quota.
  • Section 16 of Republic Act No. 8551 provides that selection criteria under the waiver program shall be observed, and it requires NAPOLCOM to promulgate rules and regulations addressing other situations arising from waiver of entry requirements.
  • The waiver program is implemented through NAPOLCOM Memorandum Circular No. 99-005 (guidelines and procedure for waiver of minimum qualifications) and is aligned with the recruitment/selection/appointment procedures under NAPOLCOM Memorandum Circular No. 2007-009.
  • The circular is adopted to allow applicants with exemplary aptitude and special qualifications or skills useful or needed by the PNP to apply for waiver before the official start of or during the recruitment program, addressing instances where recruitment quotas are not filled due to lack of qualified applicants.

Core conditions for waivers

  • Waiver of age, height, and weight for initial appointment to the PNP may be granted only when the number of qualified applicants falls below the approved national/regional quota.
  • Age waiver may be granted only if the applicant is not less than twenty (20) nor more than thirty-five (35) years of age.
  • An applicant is considered not over thirty-five (35) years old if the applicant has not yet reached the thirty-sixth (36th) birthday on the date of issuance of the appointment.
  • Height waiver may be granted to:
    • a male applicant who is at least 1 meter and 57 cm (1.57m); and
    • a female applicant who is at least 1 meter and 52 cm (1.52m).
  • Height waiver for indigenous group members requires different minimum heights: 1.52m for male and 1.45m for female, for applicants belonging to indigenous groups duly certified by the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) or the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP).
  • Applicants who are granted a weight waiver must be given reasonable time to comply, but the period shall not exceed six (6) months.
  • The grant of waiver is not a guarantee for appointment into the police service.
  • The PNP Screening Committee, through the Chief of the PNP, requests NAPOLCOM to consider appointment for waiver only with an applicant’s certification under oath that qualified applicants at the time the applicant is being considered fall below the office/unit quota concerned.

Waiver Committee structure and authority

  • The NAPOLCOM Commission En Banc may convene a Waiver Committee if it so decides.
  • The Waiver Committee consists of three (3) members, with the Service Chief of the Personnel and Administrative Service (PAS) as Chairman.
  • The Waiver Committee assists the Commission En Banc in the screening and processing of applicants for waiver.
  • The members are appointed by the Commission En Banc from nominees submitted to the Vice Chairman and Executive Officer (VCEO) and remain members until replaced upon recommendation by the VCEO.
  • The Waiver Committee may engage/solicit the services of experts in fields relevant to the waiver being sought.

Factors for granting waivers

  • The Commission En Banc considers possession of special skills such as evidence gathering and safekeeping, cyber crime investigation, detection and prevention, crime scene investigation, martial arts, marksmanship, and similar special skills.
  • The Commission En Banc considers special talents in sports, music, or arts and culture.
  • The Commission En Banc considers extensive experience or training in forensic science and other legal, medical and technical services.
  • The Commission En Banc considers outstanding academic records and extracurricular activities during school days, good family background in law enforcement or socio-civic activities, recognized social standing in the community, and awards and commendations that indicate the applicant can become a good member of the PNP.
  • Applicants with the least disqualifications take precedence over applicants with more disqualifications.
  • The waiver requirement shall be waived in the following order: Age, then Height, then Weight.

Waiver application processing and decision timelines

  • Applicants who pass the evaluation of the PNP Screening Committee receive endorsement and submission of their folders to the Commission En Banc through the Office of the Vice-Chairman and Executive Officer, with all supporting documents and the Chief, PNPas endorsement.
  • After receipt of the folder, the VCEO presents it directly to the Commission En Banc for disposition in accordance with the requirements of law and rules.
  • The Commission En Banc may directly grant age, height and weight waiver through an En Banc Resolution based on its collective determination that the applicant has the aptitude to be a capable police officer, using any, some, or all of the enumerated factors.
  • The NAPOLCOM Regional Director may grant height waiver to a member of an indigenous group.
  • The Regional Director must submit a copy of the Certificate granting height waiver and copies of supporting documents to the Commission En Banc for recording and monitoring within 15 days from issuance of the certificate.
  • If the application is referred to the NAPOLCOM Waiver Committee for evaluation, the Waiver Committee must submit its recommendation to the Commission En Banc within 15 days from the date of referral.
  • The Waiver Committee’s recommendation must indicate and include all supporting documents, records, and papers submitted by the applicant, including the grounds for approval or denial.
  • The Commission En Banc may approve or deny the recommendation in part or in full, and the approval/denial is issued through an En Banc Resolution.
  • The En Banc Resolution must state that a grant of waiver is not a guarantee for appointment and that the applicant with a waiver will be considered only when the number of qualified applicants falls below the minimum office/unit quota.

Effect of waiver, retention, and monitoring

  • An applicant who has been granted a waiver may use the same for succeeding recruitment periods if the applicant fails to be appointed in the current recruitment period, subject to the proviso in paragraph D, subparagraph (7) of this Memorandum Circular.
  • The En Banc Resolution granting waiver for age, height, or weight remains effective as long as the applicant abides by the conditions in paragraph A, subparagraphs (2), (3), and (4) of the Memorandum Circular.
  • The Commission and/or NAPOLCOM Regional Offices maintain files of applicants granted waivers but not appointed in previous recruitment periods.
  • When the number of applicants falls short of the minimum annual quota, the Commission or NAPOLCOM Regional Offices examine, review, or assess the files of applicants with existing waivers for possible inclusion in the current recruitment period pursuant to paragraph D, subparagraphs (1), (2), and (3).

Compliance requirement and disciplinary handling

  • Any NAPOLCOM or PNP official or employee who fails to strictly observe or comply with the rules, procedures, and other pertinent policies and regulations is dealt with under existing rules and regulations.

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