President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has vetoed a bill seeking to reform the Philippine National Police (PNP) “to ensure that any changes in our police force are fair, clear, and truly beneficial to everyone involved,” Malacañang said.
Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said changes to salaries under Senate Bill No. (SBN) 2449 or the proposed PNP Reform Act may result in “unfair” salary disparities among government employees.
“The President believes it is essential to maintain fairness and equality in compensation for all members of the PNP,” he said in a statement.
Bersamin noted that SBN 2449, whose principal author was Senator Bong Revilla Jr., also creates new offices within the PNP, potentially leading to unnecessary bureaucracy and inefficiency.
“Our administration’s goal is to streamline operations, not complicate them. Furthermore, adding more liaison offices could pose security risks. The current structure already provides robust oversight and coordination,” according to him.
The Palace also emphasized the need for the Internal Affairs Service, in charge of investigating police misconduct, to remain independent and impartial.
The proposed changes could compromise this vital independence, said Bersamin.
“Moreover, some parts of the bill are unclear, particularly regarding retroactive benefits for officers. The bill should avoid any confusion and ensure consistent application of rules,” he furthered.
Marcos Jr. vetoed the proposed PNP Reform Act on July 5. It was supposed to lapse into law on July 7.IMT
