NAPOLCOM orders creation of PNP freedom of information desks

The National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) has approved the proposed creation of Freedom of Information (FOI) sections in police territorial units nationwide.

NAPOLCOM  vice chairman and executive officer Rogelio Casurao said Resolution No. 2018-182, which orders the creation of FOI sections under the Public Information Division of the Directorate for Police-Community Relations was adopted on April 17.

Casurao said the FOI section will be the "primary repository of requests for access to information."

"The creation of the FOI Section is geared towards further enhancing the PNP's capability and efficiency in performing its mandated functions in line with the government's Freedom of information Program as provided for under Executive Order No. 02," Casurao said.

"It also serves as the primary medium for promoting transparency and open exchange of information from the PNP organization to the public," he added.

The NAPOLCOM approved the resolution weeks after the Supreme Court ordered the government, particularly the Philippine National Police, to submit reports on anti-illegal drugs operations since President Rodrigo Duterte assumed office in July 2016 until November 2017.

The resolution says regional FOI sections under the Community Relations Divisions of police regional offices and the FOI desks under the PNP territorial units "shall be responsible for handling, receiving, evaluating, processing, dispatching and monitoring actions and responses to all requests for access to PNP-related information within their respective areas of responsibility."

It was not clear, however, what type of information are allowed to be released by the FOI desks.

All FOI sections and desks nationwide will be manned by 2,157 uniformed personnel composed of 124 police commissioned officers and 2,033 police non-commissioned officers.

The NAPOLCOM said that a copy of the resolution has already been submitted to the Department of Budget and Management to "serve as basis for the provision of supplemental budget for the recruitment of 2,033 non-uniformed personnel who shall replace the PNCO complement." —ALG, GMA News