Alumni of the Philippine National Police Academy say DILG chief Mar Roxas has failed to address complaints of favoritism and inequality within the police agency
Alumni of the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) criticized Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II for failing to act on their complaints regarding the alleged inequality and favoritism within the policy agency.
In a statement released Sunday, July 19, the Philippine National Police Academy Alumni Association, Inc (PNPAAAI) said the group met with Roxas and National Police Commission (Napolcom) commissioner Eduardo Escueta more than a year ago to discuss their appeal for equality in the assignments and promotions at the Philippine National Police (PNP).
The PNPAAAI had raised their concerns regarding the alleged disparity in the awarding of plum posts at the PNP, with key positions often occupied by graduates of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA).
Since the meeting last April 24, 2014, however, neither Roxas nor Napolcom has taken steps to address their complaint, PNPAAAI chairman retired police chief superintendent Tomas Rentoy III said.
He added that Roxas even directed Escueta and PNP Deputy Director General Felipe Rojas to find solutions to the group's concerns.
Rentoy also said that President Benigno Aquino III himself made mention of the alleged factionalism within the PNP during a command conference he attended at Camp Crame.
“He reportedly asked those officers present to correct the huge disparity but it appears nothing has happened since then,” Rentoy said in the statement.
The President made the same call for solidarity during the PNPA graduation rites in Silang, Cavite last March.
He told graduates of Lakandula Class of 2015: “Baguhin na natin ang kultura na parang may magkakahiwalay na tribo sa PNP; may batas si ganito, may batas si ganyan. Iisa dapat ang ating pag hakbang upang maging epektibong tagapagbantay ng ating mamamayan.”
(Let us change the culture of factionalism within the PNP, where that guy is his guy, and that is his guy. We need solidarity among you, so that you may be effective protectors of our countrymen.)
Rentoy said PNPA graduates have been trying to break the culture of factionalism within the agency, "only to be frustrated time and again to qualify and be designated to positions of greater responsibility."
"Some have even expressed that non-PMA graduates have virtually become 'second-class citizens in their own backyard,” Rentoy added.
This has been a perennial complaint from non-PMAers in the Philippine National Police (PNP). This kind of factionalism over the source of officer commissions has also plagued the Philippine military. ROTC and other non-PMA officers have complained about preferential selection of PMA graduates for promotion at their expense.
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