Pontanal, M. L. (2018). Rationalizing the Philippine National Police administrative disciplinary mechanisms (Unpublished master's thesis). Public Management Development Program, Development Academy of the Philippines.

Public Management and Development Program Senior Executive Class Batch 6 Thesis (SEC)--Development Academy of the Philippines.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) and the National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) were created pursuant to the constitutional prescription that "the State shall establish and maintain one police force, national in scope and civilian in character to be administered and controlled by a national police commission." Under R.A. No. 8551 amending R.A. No. 6975, specifically Section 2 thereof the State entrusted to PNP the responsibility of promoting and maintaining peace and order and public safety; and to NAPOLCOM the duty of administrative control and operational supervision over PNP. To ensure PNP attains and sustains a high degree of discipline, a disciplinary mechanism composed of various disciplinary authorities has been established by law, such that members of PNP are the bureaucracy's most reviewed employees. Despite the presence of various disciplinary authorities, incidences of police misbehavior or or misdemeanor ranging from simple violations to involvement in heinous crimes remain unabated. The quad-media (radio, newspapers, TV and the social media) give a daily dose of police infractions of the law leaving the unfortunate impression that the law enforcers are the law enforcers are the law breakers and, in the process, eroding the people's trust, confidences and support for PNP. Review of available reports of the dispositions made by the various disciplinary authorities, such as the People's Law Enforcement Boards (PLEBs), the PNP and the NAPOLCOM, reveals relatively low disposition rates. Interestingly, NAPOLCOM dispositions indicate a high rate of complaints being closed and dropped, and referred to other disciplinary authorities for lack of jurisdiction as against the complaints that were resolved based in its merit. This dismayed most complainants. Empirical feedback, from complainants and personnel involved in processing PNP disciplinary cases, shows the various disciplinary authorities and its complex jurisdiction confuse people. The failure to determine the appropriate disciplinary authority over a case results in such kind of disposition. To rectify the situation, the following policy options were recommended as immediate and long term solutions, respectively: 1) Improve delineation of responsibilities within the existing systems and procedures through institutional arrangements / agreements with the aid of technology; 2) Status Quo with information and educational campaign to increase public awareness on the disciplinary mechanisms; and 3) Amendment of the Republic Act No. 6975, as amended by Republic Act No. 8551 to rationalize the police disciplinary mechanisms through a prepared draft bill.