The Philippine National Police (PNP) assured that the new police rank classification does not signal the militarization of its forces.

PNP Spokesperson Pssupt. Bernardo Banac said only the names of the rank changed and not their duties.He said the PNP will remain “civilian in nature” as stated in the local government code.

“Walang militarisasyon dahil walang pagbabago sa mandato at misyon ng Philippine National Police. Ganoon pa rin, to enforce the law, prevent and control crime, maintain peace and order, ensure public safety so walang magbabago,” according to Banac.

(There is no militarization because there is no change in the mandate and mission of the Philippine National Police. They will still enforce the law, prevent and control crime, maintain peace and order and ensure public safety. So, there is no change.)

Republic Act 11200 or the rank classification in PNP, was signed by

President Rodrigo Duterte on February 8.



Banac said the law only brought back the previous ranks of the police including general, colonel, major, captain, inspector, lieutenant, sergeant, corporal and patrolman.

“Ang kagandahan pa nito ay iyong koordinasyon sa Armed Forces of the Philippines at iba nating counterparts sa ibang bansa, dahil alam natin sa isa’t isa kung ano iyong counterpart ng ranggo, halimbawa ang police chief inspector, ang katapat pala noon sa AFP at sa ibang bansa ay major,” said Banac.

(The good thing about this is the coordination with the Armed Forces of the Philippines and our other counterparts in other countries. Because we, ourselves, know the rank counterparts. For example the police chief inspector is the same rank with a major in AFP and other countries.)

Several PNP officials, meanwhile, agrees with bringing back the old rank classification.

“Mas maganda para sa akin na nabalik sa dating ranggo na police lieutenant, police captain so parang wala nang confusion. Kasi minsan superintendent, hindi mo alam kung school superintendent o division superintendent ng DepEd (Department of Education). Usually ang tawag naman ng mga kakilala at kaibigan natin ay colonel, hindi naman police senior superintendent,” according to Pssupt. Romeo Caramat, commander of Counter-intelligence Task Force (CITF).

Directorate for Police Community Relations (DPCR) executive assistant Police Chief Inspector Josef Angeles said, “We gladly welcome the changes in the rank classification ng Philippine National Police.”

“In the past na-observe ko rin kasi na pag sinabi mo yung ranggo mo na police chief inspector, ano’ng equivalent noon sa AFP? Sasabihin mo pa na major. Ngayong same na halos ang classification sa AFP ay naiiwasan natin na mag-create ng confusion sa public,” Angeles added.

(In the past, I have observed that whenever you say police chief inspector, they will ask its equivalent in the AFP. You will have to say major. Now, that our classification is the same with the AFP , we can avoid confusion from the public.)

The secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Eduardo Año said they aim to immediately implement the new rank classification through a donning ceremony — Aileen Cerrudo (with reports from Lea Ylagan)







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