PNP to review disability discharge rules

Philippine National Police Acting Chief Police Lieutenant General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. has ordered a review of the organization’s disability discharge policies.

“The PNP has established policies on complete disability discharge. But with the instruction of the President, we are now looking at our procedures to ensure they are updated, fair, and responsive,” Nartatez said in a statement Tuesday.

“Kung kailangan ng parallel review, handa po ang PNP na gawin ito (If a parallel review is needed, the PNP is ready to do it),” he added.

This is after President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. ordered the Department of National Defense (DND) and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to reassess their disability discharge rules after the reported forced retirement of a soldier who lost his vision in a blast incident. 

The PNP Health Service and the Directorate for Personnel and Records Management will launch an audit of the organization’s disability discharge procedures to determine possible gaps.

Under Section 73 of the DILG Act of 1990, PNP personnel who incur “total permanent physical disability” in the line of duty may be retired or separated depending on years of service. 

The procedures and standards for disability-benefit claims are also based on the implementing rules from the National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM), according to the PNP.

The PNP will consult with the Department of the Interior and Local Government and other security agencies to harmonize disability ratings, medical evaluation standards, and benefit computations across the uniformed services. 

Nartatez also wants to offer possible administrative, technical, and support roles to police officers who are no longer fit for field deployment but still capable for other tasks.

“Marami po tayong tasks na hindi field-related pero critical sa operations. Kung medically unfit for combat ang isang pulis pero may kakayahan pa, we want to retain them so they can still contribute meaningfully,” he said.

(We have many tasks that are not field-related but are critical to operations. If a police officer is medically unfit for combat but still has the ability, we want to retain them so they can still contribute meaningfully.) —AOL, GMA Integrated News