Manila (13 July) -- The National Police Commission has ordered the Philippine National Police (PNP) to strictly observe the rule covering the submission to the Napolcom of the proposed list of officers for assignment to key provincial and district positions for its review and approval before transmitting such recommendations to local chief executives.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno, who is concurrent chairman of the Napolcom, said that under Resolution No. 251 adopted by the Commission last July 9, the recommended list of officers that require the review and approval of the Napolcom en banc covers all provincial directors, district directors of the Manila Police District and the Quezon City Police District, police directors of highly urbanized cities and chiefs of police of independent component cities.

The resolution, Puno noted, likewise stressed that the list of eligible police officers for designation as chiefs of police of municipalities and component cities should be reviewed and confirmed by the Napolcom Regional Directors in the areas covered by these assignments "prior to its transmittal to the city or municipal mayor."

"This directive is actually a reiteration of two earlier Napolcom circulars that were issued pertaining to the assignment of PNP officials to key positions in the provincial and district levels," Puno said. "The Commission decided to issue the resolution after observing that in some instances, the procedures on the selection, designation and reassignment of PNP officers occupying these key posts have not been properly observed."

He was referring to the Commission's Memorandum Circular Nos. 2002-011 and 2001-05, which provide the steps necessary for the appointment and assignment of police officers in all ranks and positions.

Puno, in his capacity as Napolcom chairman, had ordered a review of the procedures pertaining to the assignment of PNP personnel to key positions after noting that ignoring such measures "sometimes result in the designation of officers who do not meet the required qualifications provided under the law."

He pointed out that under Republic Act 8551, which is the law reforming and reorganizing the PNP, local chief executives, particularly governors and mayors, are automatically deputized as representatives of the Napolcom in their respective areas of jurisdiction.

"As deputized agents of the Commission, local government executives have been granted powers and responsibilities in police administration, which include, among others, the authority to choose the chiefs of police and provincial directors," Puno noted.

Puno, pointed out, however, that before the PNP transmits its list of recommended officers for assignment in a particular province or city to the local chief executive concerned, it should first ensure that the Napolcom has reviewed and approved such list to certify that only qualified police personnel are appointed to key positions.

Existing Napolcom rules require the submission to the Commission of three qualified officers recommended for assignment as provincial directors and five recommendees for highly urbanized cities.

In the case of municipalities and component cities, the Napolcom requires a list of five eligible officers that should be submitted by the PNP for review and approval.