President Marcos veto finds many flaws in PNP reform bill

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has vetoed the proposed law reorganizing the Philippine National Police (PNP) for containing provisions that he says will not jibe with his administration’s policies and objectives.

“While this administration recognizes the laudable objectives of the bill, I cannot approve it because the provisions run counter to administrative policy and efficiency,” Mr. Marcos said in his veto message dated July 5 and posted on the Senate website.

He said he wanted to ensure that it would deliver much-needed reforms, comply with civil service laws, salary standardization policies, and base pay schedules, and conform with budgetary policies.

“[T]he bill must be supportive of the programs and policy aspirations of the present and future administrations, among which is the proposed National Government Rightsizing Program,” he added.

The measure seeks to amend Republic Act No. 8551, or the PNP Reform and Reorganization Act of 1998, and RA 6975, or the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Act of 1990.

It is also the final copy of the bicameral conference committee report on the disagreeing provisions of House Bill No. 8327 and Senate Bill No. 2249 on PNP restructuring that Congress ratified in March.

Among the President’s misgivings was the potential distortion in pay due to a provision that would substantially raise the salary of Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) cadets to the point of exceeding that of a police lieutenant.

“The grant of Salary Grade 21 to PNPA cadets will distort the base pay schedule of the Military and Uniformed Personnel by creating disparity among the several government cadetship programs. At any rate, the grant is visibly higher than the base pay the cadets will receive after graduation and appointment as police lieutenants,” he said.

Under RA 11466, or the Salary Standardization Law of 2019, the fourth tranche of pay increases to be implemented this year means those with Salary Grade 21 will have a base pay of at least P63,997.

“It’s sad to admit it, but it seems like all the hard work, not only of the Congress but also of the DILG, Napolcom and PNP in drafting the bill, were wasted,” Dela Rosa said in a statement. —WITH A REPORT FROM TINA G. SANTOS