PNP supports bill seeking to repeal height limit for police officers

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InterAksyon.com
The online news portal of TV5

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine National Police (PNP) announced that it is supportive of the proposed measure filed by Sen. Gregorio "Gringo" Honasan II that seeks a repeal on the height requirement for prospective police officers.

"That is a welcome move on our part as it will allow our countrymen, lacking height, to enlist at the PNP," Chief Supt. Agrimero Cruz., Jr. one of the alternate spokesperson of the PNP, said.

He also said that zeal, patriotism, and willingness to serve others were more important than physical attributes like height.

The PNP official made this statement after noting that Aetas, despite their small size, joined the guerilla ranks in World War II and succeeded in winning many battles against the Japanese invader.

"It will also demonstrate that the PNP does not discriminate in selecting its members," Cruz said.

On May 14, Honasan introduced a bill which seeks to repeal the height requirement for applicants for the PNP.

“Heightism or discrimination based on height is a reality today that has been widely practiced among law enforcement agencies and armed forces worldwide,” Honasan pointed out as he explained Senate bill 3184, known as the Police Height Equality Act of 2012.

The lawmaker also added that the proposed bill seeks to repeal the height requirement imposed on the Section 30 (h) of Republic Act (RA) 6975 or the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Act of 1990, as amended by RA 1998.

As provided in Republic Act 1998, known as the Philippine National Police Reform and Reorganization Act of 1998, the height must be at least 1.62 meters and 1.57 meters for male and female, respectively.

The proposed act explains that the height discrimination unnecessarily limits quality choice while promoting social prejudice.

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