Short people need not apply for police, firefighting jobs

President Benigno Aquino III has vetoed a bill that would have removed the height requirement for entering the Philippine National Police, the Bureau of Fire Protection and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, Malacañang confirmed Monday. "I can confirm that the President vetoed Senate Bill 3217 or House Bill 6203 entitled an Act Repealing the Minimum Height Requirement for Applicants to the Philippine National Police, to the Bureau of Fire Protection, and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology,” deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said at a briefing. Valte said police and jail officers have to reach minimum height requirements to fulfill their duties well “because of the nature of [their] work.” “Because of the nature of the work of these service bureaus, by way of guarding detainees or escorting criminals, our jail officers must possess the necessary physical attributes to perform their functions effectively. This also applies to our firefighters and to our law enforcers,” she said. Valte, however, said the veto was in no way discriminatory. Currently, male applicants have to be five feet four inches or taller, while female applicants have to be at least five feet two inches, to be considered for the police, jail or fire agencies. In his veto message, Aquino explained that the total repeal of the height requirement is also unnecessary, as there are exemptions “under certain conditions.” “While I recognize the noble intent of this measure to address height equality among these bureaus, I am also seriously apprehensive of the concerns propounded by the PNP and BJMP in the safety of their personnel in the performance of their duties, as well as public safety in general,” Aquino said. Under the existing RA 9592, or the Bureau of Fire Protection and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology Professionalization Act of 2004, the height requirement can be waived for “cultural communities.” “A waiver for height and age requirements shall be automatically granted to applicants belonging to the cultural communities,” according to the existing law.  — Patricia Denise Chiu/KBK/HS, GMA News