Police applicants in the region will be subjected to intensive background checks and neuro-psychological tests as part of the internal cleansing implemented by the PNP organization.
This directive was issued by PNP Director General Oscar Albayalde to ensure that only those who pass the tough requirements will be able to wear a badge and uniform.
In an interview on Tuesday, Chief Insp. Milgrace Driz, the spokesperson of Police Regional Office XI, said any member of the force will be thoroughly assessed from recruitment to retirement.
“In the recruitment, the background investigation has become stricter,” she said.
Driz explains that the chief of the police where the applicant resides will be responsible for the initial background check. The report will be forwarded to the Counter Intelligence Task Force (CITF) of the PRO XI, which will then verify the information.
If the CITF will find discrepancies in the initial evaluation, the station commander will be held responsible and face disciplinary action.
“The chief of police has a command responsibility so they must be honest on the background check of the applicant,” she said.
Those who want to join the police force have to fill up the online application form. They will also be screened by the Office of the Directorate for Personnel Record Management in Camp Crame.
“So if they have complied with the initial requirements then that time, their names will be forwarded to the regional headquarters,” she said.
After the regional office receives the names, the applicants will submit their additional requirements before they will undergo a series of screening procedures like the agility test, physical exam, medical, and the neuro exam. Passers will be interviewed by the screening board committee of the region to determine their physical and mental capabilities.
The results of the neuro test will be submitted to Camp Crame Regional Health Service.
“The neuro will be the biggest basis because if they fail that, they can’t proceed to the medical (executive check-up),” Driz further said.
For now, the Police Regional Office XI is processing more or less 400 PNP applicants.
Albayalde said he wants to rid the force of rogue personnel that continue to give the PNP a bad image.
He directed the conduct of a “fool-proof” neuro-psychological and medical examination for the PNP applicants.
The PNP chief said under the new system, even the director of the PNP Health Service won’t know the applicant’s papers.
And similar to ‘marriage banns,’ the names of would-be policemen would also be published on newspapers and social media to seek the help of the public in identifying those with pending cases or complaints.
