Over 7,000 cops qualified for localization program, PNP says

More than 8,000 police officers have expressed intention to be reassigned to their areas of residences, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said on Tuesday.

Data from the Directorate for Personnel and Records Management (DPRM) showed that a total of 8,561 personnel wanted to be reassigned to areas where they live. However, only 7,410 qualified for the localization program.

Among reassignment requests, a total of 4,742 personnel have signified to transfer to the National Capital Region, 841 personnel wanted to be reassigned to Calabarzon, 475 personnel to Central Luzon, and 475 cops wanted to go back to the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region.

The DPRM added that other regions got less than 200 localization requests.

PNP chief Police General Camilo Pancratius Cascolan on Monday said he is pushing for localization of the assignments of policemen

A provision of Section 63 of Republic Act 8551 or the Philippine National Police Reform and Reorganization Act of 1998 states that PNP members with the ranks of Patrolman/woman up to Police Executive Master Sergeant will be “assigned to the city and municipality of their recruitment and/or place of residence or if not possible, to the closest municipality, province or regions to his residence.”

The DPRM is now processing the requests under the localization program. It is also fast-tracking the records for swapping of personnel.

It noted that “only an applicant who submitted an affidavit of undertaking availing the localization of assignment will be considered for processing.”

The DPRM added that the applicant must also be cleared of money and property accountabilities from his present office or unit.

Cancellation of local reassignment after the orders were issued will not be entertained, the DPRM said. — Anna Felicia Bajo/RSJ, GMA News