Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — Graduates of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) getting key positions in the institution over their peers from the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) is a recurring issue in the PNP.
“Palagi kasing skewed in favor of the PMA ang pwestuhan,” Philippine National Police Academy Alumni Association Incorporated (PNPAAAI) chairman and CSupt. Tomas Rentoy said.
Based on PNP data, 36 of the 43 key positions in the PNP National Headquarters are held by PMA alumni. Only four officials are from the PNPA and the remaining three are from other institutions.
Among the regional directors, 17 are from the PMA, while only one is a PNPA graduate.
But among the Provincial Directors, the PNPA reigns with 56 graduates. Fourteen are commissioned from the PMA, and 10 from other sources.
“We are losing hope na magkaroon pa ito ng pagbabago this administration. So we just hope na next administration ma-address na ang ganitong concerns para ma-level ang playing field,” Rentoy said.
The PNPA Alumni Association submitted a resolution to then Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II to appoint a PNPA graduate to permanently sit in the PNP’s promotions board.
But to no avail.
“Ilagay natin sa konteksto, dati siyento porysento nagmumula sa PMA. Naturally by sheer seniority sila ang mga na pro-promote. Mula nung natigil na yan nagsimula na yung PNPA eh magiging PNPA naman ang magiging official. So natural yan sa proseso ng PNP,” Roxas said in a previous interview.
The PNP said it’s natural that PMA graduates would occupy the key positions since majority of the senior officers came from there.
Data show that among senior officers who joined the PNP from 1981 to 1985, 97 are from the PMA while 40 are from the PNPA.
The PNP added this will gradually change as members of class 1986 onwards move up the career ladder.
“Palagi naming ine-emphasize na merit ang fitness. Kasi nandyan ang statistics pero dadaan ka pa rin sa evaluation,” said PNP Spokesman Wilben Mayor.
The NAPOLCOM is challenging the PNPA Alumni Association to contest the appointment of any senior official who didn’t deserve it. Unless they can prove it, the allegation remains an allegation.
