The Senate-approved Philippine National Police (PNP) Reform Bill that includes two crucial amendments that Independent Senator Alan Peter Cayetano pushed for is now pending at the Bicameral Conference Committee (Bicam).
This after the Senate announced on Monday, February 26, 2024, the composition of the Senate Bicameral Conference Committee for Senate Bill No. 2449 and House Bill No. 8327 or the PNP Reorganization Act.
Former PNP Chief Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, as bill sponsor, chairs the Senate panel. He is joined by Senators Alan Peter Cayetano, Ramon Bong Revilla Jr., Joseph Victor Ejercito, Francis Tolentino, and Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III as members.
Cayetano’s amendments that are included in the Senate-approved bill are the addition of personnel to the Regional Forensic Unit-National Capital Region (RFU-NCR) and the option allowing current PNP personnel who have less than 1 year left in the service upon effectivity of the law to retire at the age of 56, instead of 57 years old as the bill mandated.
Cayetano said these reforms can make the dream of a more professional and effective police force closer to reality.
“Kung sa batas na ito ay magtatanim tayo ng tamang resources, batas, at proteksyon para sa ating mga pulis, maganda rin ang aanihin natin,” the senator stated in an interpellation with dela Rosa on December 12, 2023.
Cayetano has been actively supporting PNP’s modernization to enhance the organization’s ability to maintain peace and order in the country and tackle insurgency and terrorism.
In January, he spearheaded the construction of the newest RFU-NCR crime laboratory at Camp Bagong Diwa in the City of Taguig which aims to fast-track crime investigations in the country and restore public trust in the law.
“I am very much honored and I thank God for the opportunity to be able to advocate for you, to play a small part na y’ung mga facilities n’yo ay mapondohan at mapaganda, nasa administrasyon man ako o sa oposisyon,” Cayetano said.
He said helping reform the PNP for better service is part of his vision of a transformed nation, a vision he wants to instill to the institution as well.
“Let us have the same priorities, my brothers and sisters in uniform, dahil ito ay para sa inyo, para ating mga kababayan, at para sa ating mahal na bansang Pilipinas,” he added.
