MALAYBALAY CITY (PIA)--Senate President Juan Miguel "Migz" Zubiri assured officials of the Philippine National Police (PNP) that the Senate is doing everything in its power to support the evolving needs of the police force. 

In a speech before police officials attending the 44th Grand Alumni Homecoming of the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) in Silang, Cavite, Zubiri lauded the police force for its contribution to advancing the welfare of the people, even saying that the Senate has benefitted from the wisdom of police officers who became senators like Robert Barbers, Ping Lacson, Fred Lim and currently, Sen. Bato dela Rosa. 

"In reality, legislators and law enforcement officers should work hand-in-hand. Whatever instruments we wield, whether guns or pens, we all have the same goal: to protect and uplift our communities and the nation. To this end, the Senate has worked on developing legislation to support the evolving needs of the police force," he said.

Zubiri started quantifying this legislative support by mentioning the passage in 2021 of Republic Act No. 11549, known as the Height Equality Act, which reduced the height requirement for not only police recruits but also officers of firefighters and jail and corrections officers. 

"We know that a good cop is not defined by height. What counts are courage, commitment, and integrity. And so this law opened the doors for many more Filipinos to enter the police force and dedicate themselves to the service of our people," the Senate chief said. 

He announced that the Senate passed the PNP Organizational Reforms Act last month on the third and final reading to update the PNP's old structures while strengthening and streamlining its leadership, organization, and management.

The Senate chief disclosed that the House will institutionalize offices such as the Directorial Staff and the Area Police Command across the country to fortify their roles and integrate them better into the police force.

The Jail Integration Act, which will transfer provincial and sub-provincial jails from the supervision of LGUs to the supervision of the BJMP, was passed on third and final reading last week in the Senate. 

"Under the expert management of the BJMP, we hope to create a more efficient and standardized system of management for all Persons Deprived of Liberty, no matter where they are serving their time," Zubiri explained. 

The bill, he said, will also complement the Heinous Crimes Facility Act that was passed in the 18th Congress and has obtained funding this year. 

"With that supermax facility in Mindoro, we hope to decongest our jails, and we hope to establish a better managed penitentiary system that will help low-level offenders have a truly rehabilitative time in prison, away from the influence of high-level offenders," he said.

He also mentioned that the committee report for the BFP and BJMP Rank Classification Act is out and is ready for plenary debates. 

Apart from legislation targeting institutional improvement, Zubiri said the Senate is also working on bills that will help with the arms procurement of the police force, namely the amendments to the Government Procurement Reform Act and the Self-Reliant Defense Posture Act (SRDP).

"The SRDP Act, in particular, is significant to me because we should be able to produce our own defense needs, on our own time, rather than relying on our foreign allies for the bulk of our arms procurement," he declared. 

He said the PNP can also look forward to the PNP Forensic DNA Database Act, believing it will revolutionize criminal investigations in the Philippines as this Act would bring the country's forensic science practices up to par with global standards.

"As you can see, the Senate is all in with our support for the PNP and its partner agencies. We deeply value your selflessness and sacrifice. We recognize that your work is critical to our country's growth. We cannot, after all, pursue progress without first securing peace. And so the Senate is always here to work with you in our shared responsibility of engendering genuine and lasting peace in our communities and the country," the senator from Bukidnon said. (Office of SP Juan Miguel Zubiri/PIA Bukidnon)