Marcos vetoes police reform bill

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. has vetoed a bill seeking to reform the Philippine National Police (PNP), citing loopholes including a provision that goes against his government’s rightsizing push.

Mr. Marcos wants to ensure that any changes in the police force are “fair, clear and truly beneficial to everyone involved,” Executive Secretary Lucas P. Bersamin said in a statement on Thursday.

He said the bill pushes changes to police salaries that “could cause unfair disparities among officers.”

“The President believes it is essential to maintain fairness and equality in compensation for all members of the PNP,” he said.

He added that the bill could lead to unnecessary bureaucracy and inefficiency because it creates new offices under the PNP.

“Our administration’s goal is to streamline operations, not complicate them,” Mr. Bersamin said. “Furthermore, adding more liaison offices could pose security risks. The current structure already provides robust oversight and coordination.”

He said proposed changes to the Internal Affairs Service (IAS), which investigates police misconduct, could compromise its independence.

“Moreover, some parts of the bill are unclear, particularly regarding retroactive benefits for officers. The bill should avoid any confusion and ensure consistent application of rules,” he added. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza