162 Palace ‘defenders’ promoted

The National Police Commission (Napolcom) announced yesterday the promotion of 162 more police officers who guarded Malacañang during the Labor Day siege of 2001.

They now join the ranks of more than 6,000 "Palace defenders" who have been elevated to the next higher rank in the last four years. This brings the total number of policemen promoted for successfully suppressing the uprising staged by supporters of former President Joseph Estrada to 6,378.

Napolcom Chairman and Interior and Local Government Secretary Angelo Reyes said the commission en banc approved three separate resolutions containing the names of 162 special promotees.

He said their ranks range from Police Officer 1 to Police Chief Inspector, which is equivalent to the rank of major in the military service.

"The Napolcom approved the meritorious promotion of 162 police officers after the Philippine National Police (PNP) Special Promotions, Awards and Decorations Board (SPADB) recognized their heroism in preserving peace and order in the country in the face of a raging mob during and in the days leading to the May 1, 2001 rebellion," Reyes said in a statement.

He noted that under Section 38 of Republic Act 6975, or the PNP Law, as amended by the PNP Reform and Reorganization Act of 1998, special promotions may be granted to policemen for acts of conspicuous courage and gallantry at the risk of their lives over and beyond the call of duty.

Reyes announced that the uniform effectivity date of all Labor Day siege promotions has been set to Jan. 16, 2004.

Napolcom vice chair and executive officer Imelda Roces said that of the 162 special promotees, 76 were granted permanent status as they have met the required education and eligibility for the next higher rank.

The other 86, she explained, were given only temporary appointments for lack of appropriate eligibility and necessary education.

"This is mandated under Napolcom Memorandum Circular 98-03 which provides that special promotees who lack the required eligibility and education shall be given temporary appointment renewable every year," Roces said.

She added that said promotees will remain on temporary status until such time that they shall have acquired the appropriate eligibility and have possessed the required educational attainment.

Roces said Napolcom will still be coming out with several resolutions on remaining special promotions. – Michael Punongbayan