Albayalde wants to limit recruitment of women in PNP, cites ‘restrictions’
PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) Director General Oscar Albayalde prefers to limit the number of policewomen at the PNP because of certain “restrictions” but clarified that he was not discriminating against them.
Albayalde said 12 percent of the national police force were women, two percent higher than the 10 percent quota the PNP has set for recruitment.
Among the “restrictions” Albayalde cited were “marriage, pregnancy and maternity leaves.”
The Congress’ bicameral conference committee in October approved the bill granting 105 days of maternity leave, which President Rodrigo Duterte is expected to sign.
Most policewomen are currently assigned to desk jobs with some deployed in operating units, Albayalde said.
Surigao del Sur Rep. Johny Pimentel last weekend recommended a 20-percent increase in the number of policewomen in the PNP.
Pimentel proposed that more policewomen should be put on desk jobs that would assist women and children brought to police stations.
“There’s no reason why the PNP cannot do this now. We already have ‘Women and Children Protection Desks’ headed by female officers in all police stations,” Pimentel said.
Pimentel’s proposal was prompted by an incident last week involving PO1 Eduardo Valencia who raped a 15-year-old girl in exchange for the freedom of her mother who was arrested for alleged illegal drugs. ROY NARRA, MIGGY DUMLAO
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