Press Release
January 21, 2019

Two more bills await PRRD's signature

A measure seeking to modify the rank classification in the Philippine National Police is now awaiting President Duterte's signature.

The consolidated version of Senate Bill 2031 and House Bill 5236 was transmitted to Malacañang for the President's signature last January 10.

Also submitted to the Office of the President on the same day was Senate Bill 1363 or "Lifetime Cellphone Number Act," principally authored by Sen. Sherwin "Win" Gatchalian.

Sen. Panfilo Lacson, author of Senate Bill 2031, said the measure seeks a more common rank nomenclature to standardize how law enforcers are being addressed.

"This measure is geared towards our collective pursuit of eliminating confusion on how our law enforcers must be addressed and, ultimately bringing our policemen closer to the populace," Lacson said.

"In order to maintain its clear distinction from the members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the ranks to be used in addressing the PNP personnel shall be preceded by the word 'Police'," he added.

The bill primarily seeks to amend Section 28 of Republic Act 6975 as amended, also known as the Department of Interior and Local Government Act of 1990.

Under the bill, the PNP rank classification shall be as follows:

Director-General to Police General

Deputy Director-General to Police Lieutenant General

Director to Police Major General

Chief Superintendent to Police Brigadier General

Senior Superintendent to Police Colonel

Superintendent to Police Lieutenant Colonel

Chief Inspector to Police Major

Senior Inspector to Police Captain

Inspector to Police Lieutenant

SPO4 to Police Executive Master Sergeant

SPO3 to Police Chief Master Sergeant

SPO2 to Police Senior Master Sergeant

SPO1 to Police Master Sergeant

PO3 to Police Staff Sergeant

PO2 to Police Corporal

PO1 to Patrolman/Patrolwoman

Lacson said the rank classification specified in Senate Bill 2031 will not take away the civilian character of the PNP, much less militarize it.

Lacson said the PNP "shall continue to adopt a service-oriented outlook in consonance with its existing police-community relations doctrine consistent with its sworn duty "To Serve and Protect'".

Meanwhile, the reconciled version of Senate Bill 1636 and House Bill 7652, or the Lifetime Cellphone Number Act, when signed into law, would mobile subscribers to keep their mobile numbers even if they switch to another mobile service provider or change subscription plans from prepaid to postpaid or vice versa.

The bill would give consumers freedom to choose a service provider that will give the best value for their money without having to lose or change their mobile numbers.

Gatchalian said the proposal would boost technological innovation among mobile service providers since they will now be compelled to compete with each other in providing mobile subscribers the best overall value in terms of services.

"The reconciled bill also fosters healthy competition among mobile service providers and in turn will generate better services with the best value for money," Gatchalian said.

Under the reconciled measure, mobile subscribers are not required to pay a fee when they decide to retain their existing mobile number after moving from one mobile service provider to another or changing the type of subscription from postpaid to prepaid or vice versa.

The bill will also remove the interconnection fees charged to subscribers for calling or texting across different networks, Gatchalian said.

Both measures would lapse into law if the President failed to either sign or veto the enrolled bills after 30 days.

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