ITCH!
Inconsiderate police personnel, if not inefficient PNP recruitment process
The memorandum of PNP Director General Jesus Versoza banning media access to police blotter was another major blunder causing a serious setback to the PNP Integrated Transformation Program (ITP). The first was the controversy over the PNP "euro generals".
The PNP ITP, which was launched in 2005, institutionalized the PNP Public Information Office to strengthen police-media relations. The ITP promises a more transparent and accountable police administration and operations. It is a way of PNP in gaining back public trust and confidence towards the country's police force.
But, Versoza seemed oblivious of the goals of ITP with the series of controversy plaguing the organization in his less than two months stint as the country's Top Cop.
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Similar to any government agency, the recruitment of the Philippine National Police ordinarily takes months before the successful applicants are named and hired. But, unlike any government agency, the PNP's recruitment is rather costly and frustrating.
Well, the length of the recruitment process does not really matter, but how instructions are given to applicants is.
Presently, more than 600 young professionals are frequenting Camp Martin Delgado as they wait for updates of their applications for Police Officer I (POI) positions under the Attrition Recruitment Program. And they are oftentimes more disappointed than pleased by their experiences.
Recently, I received several emails from readers on their observations how these PNP applicants were inappropriately treated or unjustly dealt with. They said these applicants were told several times to report early in the morning at Camp Martin Delgado for an important announcement relative to the status of their applications, only to be told late in the afternoon, nay evening, to go home and return the next day. No important announcement was made.
The practice caused disappointment to many applicants. And they have reason to feel such. Many of them come from far-flung municipalities and provinces. Coming to Camp Delgado for the 'important announcement' would cost them more than P100, inclusive of their fare, lunch, and at times morning and afternoon snacks.
Many applicants are either coming from poor families or bread winners of their families. For them, every day counts and a wasted day is a great loss.
Thus, the police concerned of recruitment must understand, if they are still capable of, the plight of these applicants.
Besides the concerned police personnel had been applicants too; and, therefore, they must have understood what is reasonable and what is not in dealing with PNP applicants. Unless they were 'sneaked in' and for that reason they could hardly feel what it takes to be a 'real' PNP applicants.
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For more than 600 PNP applicants, only 260 positions are available. It is expected that many will really go home as 'losers'. But the unsuccessful applicants may remain friends of the PNP. And this must be considered by personnel in charge of the recruitment. While the PNP can't accommodate all applicants, it can take this opportunity to win others as PNP supporters.
Well, that can only happen if they are treated well.
(Comments to johnsue76@yahoo.com)