To some this may sound corny. But this really happened. Three nights ago, I had a dream. An eager young man approached the Regional Office of the National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM R V 5) regarding his interest to become a man in uniform. He is a fresh graduate from a known university in Camarines Sur who is not too eager to join the ranks of five million strong force of the unemployed. His eyes beamed with hope that he brought along with him his school diploma and other credentials placed in a plastic envelope. The plastic envelope also served to cover his head from the searing heat of the sun. He appeared to be an ordinary applicant who visited the regional office in Rawis. Legazpi City who wants to take the police entrance examination conducted annually nationwide.
His query pertained to his curiosity to pass the said examination. And so I made this reply. This year the police entrance examination will be conducted on 28 May 2006 in Legazpi City, being the designated testing center in Bicol. The Philippine National Police (PNP) Entrance Examination is the basis for the grant of police eligibility required for initial/permanent appointment to the rank of Police Officer I (PO1) in the PNP.
That eager young man who read the announcement posted at the main door of the office knew already that civilians who possessed the minimum qualifications can take the said examination. For new applicants like him, he must not be less that twenty (20) and not more than thirty (30) years of age; a college graduate of four or five year baccalaureate course; at least 1.62 meters or 5 feet and 4 inches in height for male and at least 1.57 meters or 5 feet and 2 inches in height for female.
After obtaining the application form (Napolcom Form 1-A) and index card for free, he filled up the same. He knew that these documents may also be secured from the NAPOLCOM Provincial officers located inside the different Police Provincial Offices in the region. He paid the Two Hundred Pesos (P200.00) Philippine Currency examination fee stamp and submitted his three (3) recent and identical 1” x 1” pictures with name tag including his duly authenticated transcript of scholastic record by the concerned school registrar, his birth certificate duly certified by the National Statistics Office. He also submitted two (2) legal size window envelopes with eight pesos (P8.00) worth of mailing stamps affixed on each. This will be used for notice of admission and result of examination.
This young fellow also knew also that on 28 May 2006, he must bring his notice of admission, Mongol pencil no. 1 not number 2, black or blue ball pen for the essay portion of the examination and any valid identification card with picture. Qualified applicants like him will be notified through a notice of admission. He was also informed that in case an examinee fails to receive such notice within a week before the date of examination, he/she may verify the status of his/her application from the office where the application was filed. For the PNP Entrance Examination, the scope of examination covers general information, verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning and abstract reasoning.
While this young fellow was inside the office, he had the chance to read the recent Napolcom Resolution No. 2006-072 on adopting the education and age requirements for the PNP Entrance Examination. The said resolution states that the law (RA No. 8551) prohibits the appointment to the Philippine National Police of applicants who have not finished a four year college course or who are below twenty years of age, but does not prohibit the undergraduates and under aged applicants from taking the police entrance examination. The Commission for the first time, has allowed applicants with at least seventy-two (72) college units and at least eighteen (18) years old to take the PNP entrance examination so as to expand the base from which future policeman and policewoman can be drawn.
I arose from sleep with my dream still vivid in my mind. Thereafter, I got my favorite pen and put into writing what I could still recall because I wanted to share this to my fellow Caramoanon whose sons and daughters are interested on becoming members of the Philippine National Police in the near future. I fervently hope that the eager young man in my dream will pass the examination with flying colors. You may also visit our website at www.napolcom.gov.ph.
