More women cops needed in PNP — Gabriela

Gabriela Women's Party said that more women police officers are needed to properly handle gender-sensitive cases, especially those involving women and children.

"Ang dapat tumugon dito at makaagapay sa ganitong mga cases ay mga kababaihan din, lalong-lalo na kung usapin ng mga bata. Napaka-gender sensitive niya," Gabriela representative Arlene Brosas said in Mariz Umali's report on State of the Nation with Jessica Soho on Wednesday.

"So, it's about time na i-review nila 'yung kanilang panuntunan diyan," she added.

Based on a report of Center for Women's Resources (CWR), majority of the cases of abuse committed by 56 police officials against women involve rape.

The CWR report, which covered the violence against women and children since President Rodrigo Duterte assumed the presidency on June 30, 2016 until October 2018, revealed that 16 out of the 33 cases of police abuse involve rape.

Umali reported that the PNP earlier responded to the issue and called the report "fake news."

'10 percent limit'

On Monday, PNP Chief Oscar Albayalde rejected Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel's proposal to raise to 20 percent the annual recruitment and training quota for female officers.

Albayalde said the PNP has employed more women than what is prescribed by law.

"Under the law, it should be 10 percent, at sobra sobra pa nga [kami riyan]. Umaabot pa kami ng 12 percent. We don't discriminate female members of the police force. They do administrative work, are deployed in the field including in Civil Disturbance Management, even with Special Action Force," Albayalde said.

He was referring to Philippine National Police Reform and Reorganization Act of 1998, Section 58, on the prioritization of women for recruitment.

"But we stick with the 10 percent because there are restrictions for women. Kapag nag-asawa 'yan, nabuntis...lalo ngayon, 'yung maternity leave, napakahaba,” he added.

Gabriela also pointed out that pregnancy and the role of women as mothers should not be seen as hindrance in performing their duties.

"Yung ganyan po na pagtingin, napaka outdated na. Dapat yung standards natin, katulad ng sa global community. Nagpe-peg nga tayo sa gender equity, di ba? Fifty percent or more, gender equality," Brosas said.

Pimentel's proposal came after PO1 Edgardo Valencia of the Manila Police District was accused of raping the 15-year-old daughter of a couple arrested in an anti-drug operation.

Albayalde had said that Valencia's case is isolated and does not reflect the general behavior of police personnel. — Dona Magsino/BAP, GMA News