32,530 to take PNP entrance, promotional exams

MANILA, Philippines - A total of 32,530 examinees will take the Philippine National Police (PNP) entrance and promotional examinations tomorrow to be administered by the National Police Commission (Napolcom) in designated testing centers nationwide.           

Of the number, Napolcom vice chairman and executive officer Eduardo Escueta said 14,988 are taking the PNP entrance exam, and the rest (17,542) the various promotional test categories.

Escueta said tomorrow’s exams will cover the qualifying tests for Police Officer 1 and the promotional exams for Police Officers 2 and 3, Senior Police Officer (for SPO1 to SPO4), Police Inspector (for Inspector and Senior Inspector), and Superintendent (for Chief Inspector and Superintendent).

The PNP entrance exam covers general information, verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning and logical reasoning, while the promotional exams consist of questions on general information, police administration and operations, and values and ethical standards, Escueta said.

Director Josephmar Gil, Napolcom acting personnel and administrative service chief, said the exams will be held at Napolcom testing centers in the cities of Makati, San Fernando, Tuguegarao, Angeles, Cabanatuan, Iba, Calamba, Calapan, Legazpi, Iloilo, Cebu, Tacloban, Pagadian, Cagayan de Oro, Davao, Koronadal, Cotabato, Baguio and Butuan, and the provinces of Marinduque and Romblon.

Gil warned examinees against cheating, saying this it would be discovered and would result in the invalidation of the exam result.

“Anyone who commits any form of examination irregularity such as cheating, impersonation, perjury or violation of examination rules shall be dealt with administratively and criminally. In addition, his or her examination results and eligibility shall be invalidated,” Gil said.

Last Oct. 8, the Napolcom invalidated the exam results of 387 examinees in Mindanao for the April 17, 2011 tests after they were found to have cheated.

Escueta said the Napolcom analyzed the answer patterns of all successful examinees of the April 17, 2011 PNP entrance exam based on reports of massive cheating in some testing centers in Mindanao.

“After analyzing the answer patterns, the commission found that 387 examinees were found to have a high percentage, ranging from 50 to 100 percent, of homogenous wrong answers,” he said.

Escueta said the examinees’ high percentage of homogeneity of wrong answers is a strong and clear indication of statistical improbability which is regarded as prima facie evidence of the existence of exam irregularity or form of cheating as provided for under Section 4 of Republic Act 9416, or the Anti-Cheating Law of 2007.

“In order to maintain the credibility and integrity of the police examinations and to ensure that honesty, integrity and merit and fitness principles are observed as the measure of entry into the police service, the commission is committed to exercise its power and authority by weeding out anyone who undermines the sanctity and integrity of the police examinations,” Escueta said.

He said the 387 examinees shall be barred from taking the PNP entrance exam for three years pursuant to the provisions of Napolcom Memorandum Circular No. 2000-007.

The Napolcom memorandum prescribes the sanctions in case of cheating, collusion, misrepresentation, substitution or any anomalous acts in connection with the administration of police exams conducted by the Napolcom.

Escueta warned those taking the PNP entrance and promotional exams not to commit any form of irregularity, saying the Napolocom has a computer system that keeps track of the answer patterns of examinees.