Officials inspect the troops as the Commission on elections (Comelec) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) hold a simultaneous Multi-Agency Send-Off and Turnover Ceremony of Security Forces (AFP, PNP, PCG DepEd, and COMELEC) for the 2022 National and Local Elections at PNP Transformation Oval, Camp Crame, Quezon City on May 4, 2022.  Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

MANILA — Former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief and now Sen. Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa on Wednesday cautioned the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on its plan to trim down the number of police generals, saying it would affect morale 

During the confirmation hearing of newly-appointed DILG Secretary Juanito Victor "Jonvic" Remulla at the Commission on Appointments, Dela Rosa agreed with the observation that the PNP organization was "somehow bloated somewhere."

He said that he agrees that the PNP should be a "lean and mean" organization.

"Kasi nga, meron kaming observation sa PNP noon na kapag magtapon ka daw ng cigarette butts sa second floor ng Crame, chances are ang matatamaan mo pagdating sa baba, general," the former police general said.

(We had an observation before that if you throw cigarette butts from the second floor of Crame, chances are you will hit a general)

• From 133 to 25: DILG chief eyes fewer PNP generals

Remulla last month said he plans to trim the number of general officers in the PNP to 25 from 133 among the planned reforms to what he calls “a very top-heavy” organization.

But Dela Rosa said the PNP's manpower should be viewed differently from that of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

"Habang lumalaki yung population ng Pilipinas, lumalaki rin ang population ng PNP because we are trying to achieve the 1 is to 500 police to population ratio," Dela Rosa explained.

(As the population of the Philippines grows, the population of the PNP should also grow because we are trying to achieve a 1:500 police to population ratio)

Dela Rosa hopes the DILG will not make drastic changes.

"Take into consideration din natin yung morale and welfare ng mga officers na andyan dahil yung pag graduate ng PNPA, ambisyon na nila yan. 'Dito ako ma-asign, kailangan dyan ako mag-general.' Motivation nila yan sa kailangang trabaho eh," Dela Rosa said.

(Take into consideration the morale and welfare of the officers. After graduation from the Philippine National Police Academy, that is their ambition, that is their motivation)

REFORMING THE PNP

But Remulla explained no one is being fired as they will merely wait for the police generals to retire while implementing reforms.

He said the government will evaluate if a certain position requires to be led by a star-rank officer.

"It is an ongoing process. So, it's not immediate, but we are waiting for their retirement," Remulla said.

Remulla also explained there are generals who only have six officers under them and others who have no "direct command" over police personnel.

He acknowledged that this is sometimes necessary, as in the case of police attaches assigned to embassies abroad who need to be of a higher rank to engage better with their counterparts.

"So they have to have a star rank in major countries. Ayun, even though they have no one below them, it is necessary that they become generals. So there are these things," Remulla added.

"Well, it's like having too many cooks in the kitchen... And there's some generals who really don't have a command. Kailangan na trim down sila (We need to trim them down)."

COSTLY PENSION SYSTEM

Remulla explained it also affects the national budget since the police pension is funded by the national government.

"There is no pension fund for policeman, walang kaltas sa sweldo nila, ang sweldo ng general once retiring will correspond to the salary of the general 20 years from now. Ganun ang pension nila," he said.

(They don't have salary deductions for their pension fund. The pension of a general who retires will adjust to correspond to the salary of a general 20 years from now. That is how their pension works)

Remulla does not think the reform will lead to demoralization in the ranks.

"I guess if it's explained properly at tama naman ang pagpapakita natin ng merit-based system ng kanilang promotion (we explain properly that the promotions will be merit based), then it will be done very well," he said.

He said that the government is not obligated to promote police officials to the rank of general.

"It's a privilege. So that privilege has to be earned through merit," Remulla added.

Remulla said the matter is undergoing consultations with the UP College of Public Administration, whose recommendations will be presented to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and later taken up with Congress.

"Again, it's a consultative process. This country is not built on the whims and caprices of one person. It is a collective decision arrived at consensus and arrived with a rational thought behind it," he said.

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