Bello rejects Sinas' bid for police clearance in DOLE transactions

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III has rejected the request of the Philippine National Police to make the national police clearance (NPC) a requirement in the various transactions of the Department of Labor and Employment.

In his letter to PNP chief Police General Debold Sinas, Bello said, "While good-intentioned, requiring DOLE’s clientele to secure NPC to avail of our services will do more harm than good."

Sinas, in a letter to Bello dated March 10, told the Labor chief that the PNP is hoping that the DOLE will support the National Police Clearance System (NPCS) “by making the NPC as one of your requirements in your various transactions.” 

The PNP describes the NPCS as a nationwide issuance of police clearance through online application which seeks to improve the process for criminal records check.

"In using the NPC, the DOLE will have much broader information as to the character on an individual because of its much larger scope, coverage and databases relied upon and at the same time will be able to further contribute to our endeavor of attaining a safer place for the Filipino people to love and do business," the PNP letter further said.

However, Bello said DOLE stakeholders are opposed to it

Citing results of a rapid survey by DOLE, the Labor chief said constituents are not in favor of making the NPC a requirement to DOLE transactions.

“It’s a form of red tape to all and an additional financial burden to many,” he noted.

Bello cited more reasons to reject the NPC which, he said, is not aligned with the policy of President Duterte as embodied in Republic Act No. 11032 or the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2019, and Executive Order No. 129.

Also, there is no legal basis in requiring DOLE’s clientele to secure NPC, according to Bello.

“It may even violate pertinent provisions of the 1987 Philippine Constitution, Labor Code of the Philippines, as renumbered, and other existing legislations,” he added.

Nevertheless, Bello lauded the PNP for relentlessly finding ways to promote public safety.

“We are with the PNP in building a safer place for our people,” he said.

“However, we can achieve this without adding burden to the transacting public and the people we serve,” he added. —LBG, GMA News