By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA — Veteran police officers may soon stay in service longer after the House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved a bill extending the mandatory retirement age of Philippine National Police (PNP) personnel from 56 to 57 years old.
With a commanding 233-0-1 vote on Tuesday, lawmakers passed House Bill No. 8702 on third and final reading, signaling strong congressional backing for keeping seasoned officers inside the police force for another year.
The measure seeks to amend provisions of Department of the Interior and Local Government Act of 1990, the law governing the Philippine National Police under the supervision of the Department of the Interior and Local Government.
The bill was sponsored by Rolando Valeriano, chairperson of the House Committee on Public Order and Safety, and was among the final legislative pushes linked to the late former congressman and retired police general Romeo Acop.
His son and successor, Philip Conrad Acop, strongly defended the proposal, calling the adjustment “modest, measured, and reasonable” but capable of delivering major long-term benefits to the police organization.
According to Acop, many officers reaching age 56 are still physically capable, mentally alert, and professionally effective — often possessing the deepest operational experience and leadership maturity inside the force.
He argued that forcing them into retirement too early deprives the PNP of institutional memory and seasoned leadership at a time when the organization continues to face evolving security challenges.
Supporters of the measure say extending the retirement age by just one year would help stabilize leadership transitions, preserve experienced command officers, and strengthen continuity within the police ranks.
Critics, however, are expected to raise concerns over possible delays in promotions and opportunities for younger officers waiting to move up the chain of command.
If enacted into law, the measure would mark another significant restructuring effort within the country’s police institution — one that could reshape career timelines, command dynamics, and succession inside the PNP.
ia/xf
