Matatapos na ang kalituhang dinaranas ng publiko sa pagtawag sa ranggo ng mga kapulisan at sundalo dahil ganap nang nilagdaan ng Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte ang batas na nagtatama sa mga ito.
Ang Republic Act 11200 na para sa PNP rank classification ay kabilang sa mga pinakahuling batas na nilagdaan ng Pangulo na una nang itinulak at inisponsor ni Senador at dating PNP Chief Panfilo Lacson sa Senado.
Sa ilalim ng naturang batas, klinaro na ang mga ranggo ng PNP sa mga katugmang katungkulan ng mga ito.
“This measure eliminates confusion on how our law enforcers must be addressed, and brings our policemen closer to the populace. More importantly, this allows for better coordination between the PNP and other law enforcement units in countering terrorism and other threats to national security,” paliwanag ni Lacson.
Related: Double Benefit: Lacson Bill on PNP Rank Classification Signed into Law
Sa ilalim ng bagong batas, narito ang mga bagong ranggo sa PNP:
* Director-General to Police General
* Deputy Director-General to Police Lieutenant General
* Director to Police Major General
* Chief Superintendent to Police Brigadier General
* Senior Superintendent to Police Colonel
* Superintendent to Police Lieutenant Colonel
* Chief Inspector to Police Major
* Senior Inspector to Police Captain
* Inspector to Police Lieutenant
* SPO4 to Police Executive Master Sergeant
* SPO3 to Police Chief Master Sergeant
* SPO2 to Police Senior Master Sergeant
* SPO1 to Police Master Sergeant
* PO3 to Police Staff Sergeant
* PO2 to Police Corporal
* PO1 to Patrolman/Patrolwoman
“It has been nearly 30 years since the passage of Republic Act 6975, yet almost everyone has been more accustomed to the rank classification using military terminologies but are aware that they are referring to the police and not the military,” paliwanag pa ni Lacson.
Makakatulong din umano ito sa koordinasyon ng pamahalaan sa ibang bansa sa kampanya laban sa karahasan at terorismo.
“We cannot afford any delay in coordination in counter-terrorism operations and operations against other threats to national security,” banggit pa ng mambabatas.
Pero kahit nabago na ang taguri sa mga ranggo, hindi umano magagaya sa militar ang istruktura ng operasyon ng PNP.
“The Philippine National Police shall continue to adopt a service-oriented outlook in consonance with its existing police-community relations doctrine consistent with its sworn duty ‘To Serve and Protect,’” dugtong pa ni Lacson.
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