ABSTRACT Disciplinary Offenses and Intervention Measures Among the PNP Members in CALABARZON: Basis of a Proposed Program to Enhance

Professionalism This study aimed to determine the PNP disciplinary offenses and intervention measures among PNP members in CALABARZON as basis of a proposed program to enhance professionalism. It also looked into the factors which influenced the PNP members to violate the law and the PNP code of professional conduct and the prevalence of the occurrence of obstructive circumstances to the judicious resolution of cases filed against erring PNP personnel, with the end in view of helping enhance professionalism through the formulation of a proposed program.

Methodology The study used the descriptive method of research. It focused on the current wave of criminal and administrative offenses committed by PNP members in CALABARZON in the year 2007. The primary data of the study were gathered from the responses of 128 participants who are involved in the investigation of offenses committed by PNP members. They are assigned at the PNP Internal Affairs Service and the Regional Investigation and Detective Management Division of the PNP Regional Police Office 4-A

Findings The study revealed the following findings. 1.1 Out of 128 participants, 102 or 79.7 percent are male and 26 or 20.30 percent are female. 1.2 30 participants belong to age bracket 26-30, 26 belong to age bracket 31-35, 21 are 41-45 years old, 17 are 46-50 years old, 16 are 51-56 years old, 12 are 36-40 years old and 6 are 21-25 years old. The young participants outnumbered the old ones.

1.3 106 participants are college degree holders, 2 are holders of post graduate degree and only 2 are college undergraduate. The high educational attainment of the participants supported the credibility of their responses. 1.4 In terms of PCO rank, 12 are Superintendents, 10 are Inspectors, 6 are Senior Inspectors, 4 are Chief Inspectors and only one Senior Superintendent participated. Majority of the participants are Junior officers. 1.5 In terms of PNCO rank, 30 participants are PO1s, 19 are PO3s, 17 are SPO1s, 10 are SPO4s, 8 are SPO2s and 6 are PO2s, The highest number of participants are PO1s while the lowest number of participants have the rank of SPO3. Junior PNCOs are more than senior PNCOs. 1.6 In terms of Police Office assigned, 31 are personnel of IAS and 97 are personnel of the RIDMD. The RIDMD has more personnel than the RIAS. 2.1 Out of 331 offenses reported and investigated in 2007, 47 or 15 percent were committed in September, 44 or 13 percent in December, 37 or 11 percent in November, 29 or 9 percent each in February and April, 27 or 8 percent in July, 24 or 7percent each in August and May and 14 or 4 percent in January. The highest number of offenses took place in the month of September but the lowest number of offenses happened in January. 2.2 In terms of the province where the offenses took place, 105 or 32 percent were committed in Laguna, 81 or 24 percent in Rizal, 50 or 15 percent in Batangas, 48 or 15 percent in Quezon and 47 or 14 percent occurred in Cavite. Laguna registered the maximum number of offenses while Quezon had the lowest number of offenses. In terms of the nature of the offense committed, Neglect of Duty registered the highest number of 149 or 45 percent, followed by Violation of Law, 103 or 31 percent, Irregularity in the Performance of Duty, 37 or 11 percent, Misconduct, 18 or 5 percent, Incompetence, 9 or 3 percent, Dishonesty 9 or 3 percent and Oppression, 6 or 2 percent. Disloyalty to the government obtained zero frequency. 2.4 In terms of PCO rank of the offenders, Police Chief Inspector (PCINSP) committed 14 offenses or 4 percent, the highest, Police Inspector (PINSP), 12 or 4 percent, Police Superintendent (PSUPT) 8 or 2 percent, Police Senior Inspector (PSINSP) 6 or 2 percent, while Senior Superintendent (PSSUPT) committed no offense. In terms of PNCO rank, PO1 committed the highest number of offenses, 129 or 39 percent, PO2 committed 67 or 20 percent, PO3, 29 or 8 percent, SPO2, 15 or 5 percent and SPO4, 9 or 2 percent, the lowest among the PNCO rank.

3. Both the compelling need to meet the requirements of the growing family and the culture of soliciting political intervention for promotion and favored assignment instead of adhering to the merit system obtained a rank of no.1, among the factors which influenced the PNP members to violate the law and administrative code, followed by the factor no.13, the apparent anomalies involved in the reinstatement of dismissed PNP personnel, with the rank of no.3. Lonesomeness resulting from the wifes employment abroad ranked last with a verbal interpretation of moderately agree. The composite mean obtained is 3.22, moderately agree. 4. Among the sets of PNP disciplinary machinery, Chief of PNPs power to suspend, dismiss and relieve PNP personnel obtained the highest weighted mean of 4.00, relevant, with the rank of no.1, followed by disciplinary machinery no.5, police regional directors power to demote rank and dismiss PNP personnel, with the rank of no.2, relevant. Municipal and City Mayors power to suspend and recommend relief and transfer of PNP personnel obtained the lowest weighted mean of 3.05, moderately relevant, with the last rank of no.15. The composite mean obtained is 3.57, relevant. 5. Among the obstructive circumstances to the judicious resolution of cases filed against PNP personnel, Areglo system or out of court settlement of cases, obtained the highest weighted mean of 3.57, prevalent with the rank of no.1, followed by the prohibitive cost to the complainant of hiring competent lawyer and shouldering the financial requirements to prosecute the case, which obtained a weighted mean of 3.45, moderately prevalent and a rank of no.2. The circumstance, investigators abuse of discretion in appreciating the weight of the evidence adduced during investigation, obtained the lowest rank of no.15, with verbal interpretations of moderately prevalent. The composite mean obtained is 3.22, moderately prevalent. 6.1 No significant difference exists between the responses of the participants from the IAS and from the RIDMD when they are grouped according to profile variables, with regards to the prevalence of the occurrence of obstructive circumstances to the judicious resolution of cases. 6.2 The result of the test on the difference of responses between the participants from the IAS and the RIDMD disclosed that with respect to profile variable rank, a difference exists; but respect to other profile variables, no significant difference on the responses was established with regards to the relevance of the intervention of the disciplinary machinery. 7. This study formulated a proposed program to enhance professionalism among PNP members in CALABARZON.

Conclusions The study generates the following conclusions: 1. The police commissioned and the police non-commissioned officers are degree holders who are in the peak of their professional career as members of the PNP. 2.1 The most number of offenses were committed during the months of September, November and December. The month of January has the least number of offenses. 2.2 The province of Laguna was the scene of the highest number of offenses committed by PNP members in CALABARZON. The provinces of Rizal,Batangas, Quezon and Cavite followed in descending order. 2.3 Neglect of duty, an administrative offense, was violated most frequently in CALABARZON. Violation of Law, Irregularity in the Performance of Duty, Misconduct, Incompetence, Dishonesty and Oppression followed in descending order. 2.4 (PCO) Among the Police Commissioned Officers, Police Chief Inspectors committed the highest number of violations, followed by Police Inspectors, Police Superintendents, Police Senior Inspectors, in descending order. Police Senior Superintendent committed no violation. (PNCO) Among the Police Non-Commissioned Officers, PO1s committed the highest number of violations. PO2s, SPO2s, PO3s, SPO1s, SPO3s and SPO4s followed in descending order. 3. The compelling need to meet the requirements of a growing family and the culture of soliciting political intervention for promotion and favored assignment are the two leading factors which influenced PNP members to violate the law and the PNP Code Of Professional Conduct. 4. Among the sets of PNP disciplinary machinery, the CPNPs power to suspend, dismiss and relieve PNP personnel is the most relevant, followed by the Police Regional Directors power to demote rank and dismiss PNP personnel. 5. Areglo system or out of court settlement of cases is the most prevalent obstructive circumstance in the judicious resolution of cases filed against PNP personnel, followed by the prohibitive cost to the complainant of hiring competent lawyer and shouldering the financial requirements to prosecute the case.

6.1 The IAS and RIDMD personnel do not deafer in their perception with regards to the prevalence of the obstructive circumstances to the judicious resolution of cases, when grouped according to profile variables. 6.2 Except for the profile variable rank, there is no significant difference on the responses between the participants from IAS and RIDMD with regards to the relevance of the intervention of the PNP Disciplinary Machinery.