PNPA grads optimistic of changing negative public perception on PNP

The top 10 graduates of the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) Class of 2015 are hopeful they can change the negative public perception on the police force.

In an interview on GMA News TV's “News To Go” on Thursday, the 10 said they are confident that they can help improve the image of the Philippine National Police (PNP) by being "loyal" to their sworn duties of enforcing the law and maintaining peace and order.

“We believe we will be the new breed of police officers who can regain the trust and the confidence of the public, that is through serving with integrity and of course, loyalty,” said class topnotcher Police Cadet Dennis Yuson Jr.

Yuson said he believes that the extensive trainings they had during their four-year stay in the PNPA would be enough in facing the challenges in the profession, particularly the corruption within the organization.

“Malaking tulong ang aming pagsasanay sa loob lalo na ang core values na itinuro sa amin like justice, integrity and service. Kung gaano man kahirap ang hamon sa labas ng akademiya, pipilitin namin maka-serve sa bayan ng buong katapatan,” Yuson said.

Negative image

The PNP has been embroiled in one controversy after another, with several policemen, including officials, being implicated in various criminal cases and irregularities.

Among these cases are the robbery-extortion incident along EDSA involving eight police officers assigned at the La Loma Police Station in Quezon City; the killing of car racing champion Enzo Pastor, in which the alleged gunman is a police officer; the killing of a high-ranking police officer in Quezon City allegedly masterminded by some policemen; and the “wheel of torture” issue in Biñan, Laguna, involving 10 policemen.

Some ranking police officials, meanwhile, including resigned PNP chief Director General Alan Purisima, have been linked to corruption.

“Sa kabila ng pangit na imahe na sinasabi ng kababayan natin sa pulis, 'di lahat ganun. Marami pang pulis na matitino at handang magsilbi sa bayan,” Yuson said.

SAF, dangerous missions

For his part, Police Cadet Alexis Aberion, top two in the class, said despite the bloody Mamasapano encounter last January 25 where 44 PNP Special Action Force (SAF) commandos were killed, he still wants to undergo additional trainings and courses to be part of the SAF, an elite police unit.

“Ang passion ko nasa pagsisilbi ng bayan. Pagdating sa PNP-SAF, palagay ko dun ako mage-excel when it comes to public service,” Aberion said.

Police Cadet Marlon Landong, top three in the class, said that while the morale of the PNPA students was low following the Mamasapano encounter, they understand that getting into dangerous missions is part of the job of a policeman.

“Siyempre po low morale at masakit mawalan ng kasama sa service, pero part na yun ng pagpupulis, na handa kang ibigay ang buhay para sa bayan,” Landong said.

Female cadets

Cadet Julie Ann Laurel Aguilar, the only female in the top ten, meanwhile, admitted that it has become a real challenge for her and the other female PNPA cadets to finish the four-year course.

“Challenge talaga siya para sa amin na mga babae, pero sa loob ng academy gradual naman ang training. Through perseverance, nakaya naman namin matapos ang training,” Aguilar said.

A student of Business Administration in the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Aguilar said she left the university as she saw the PNPA as a “venue” to develop herself into becoming a public servant.

“Sa UP ko na-realize na I want to be a public servant. Kasi sa loob madaming demonstrations, mga movement for improvement in the government. Nakita ko ang academy as an avenue for me to be a public servant that not only to talk about the wrongs in the government but make a change,” Aguilar said, adding that her father is also a PNPA alumnus.

Batch of 2015

PNPA spokesperson Chief Inspector Richie Ayatar said there were a total of 30,000 applicants who took the exam to be part of the PNPA Batch 2015, but only 247 cadets will be graduating this month.

Ayatar said the PNPA offers extensive trainings that not only involve capacity-building courses but also values formation.

“Nagi-evolve ang training ng academy depende sa pangangailangan ng lipunan natin. Hinuhubog natin [ang values nila] kasi sila ang magiging pinuno ng ating kapulisan at ng mga bureau natin pagdating ng panahon,” Ayatar said.

“Kaya kami naka-focus hindi lang dun sa skills, mas nagfo-focus kami sa character building at yung core values para kahit sa labas ay magawa nila ang dapat gawin at ine-expect ng taong bayan sa kanila,” she said.

A graduate of the PNPA has a choice of whether to enter the PNP, the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) or the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP).

Ayatar said PNPA students are also being given financial management courses to further avoid temptations of corruption.

“Tinuturuan natin sila ng financial management kasi sa nakikita namin, paglabas ng isang opisyal, ang nagiging problema agad sa kanyang trabaho ay kapag hindi siya financially stable,” Ayatar said.

A PNPA student receives a monthly allowance of P28,000 aside from clothes and free board and lodging, Ayatar said. —Elizabeth Marcelo/KBK, GMA News