Cordillera Career Development College

College of Law
Law Subject: PRACTICUM 1 under Judge Adolfo Malingan
Submitted by: Auby N. Paneda

Interview Questions for Police Officers

Following are the answers of police officers being interviewed on the following questions.

1. Is there a difference in the recruitment training of police officers before and at present? (The way
how they were trained, which is better?)
 PNP recruitment nowadays is using Program of Instructions (POI) of Public Safety
College wherein PNP were being molded by the same program on both academic and
non-academic training; Unlike PNP recruitment before, as per observance, they were
being trained in barbaric ways and most of their instructors came from Philippine
Constabulary (PC) and Integrated National Police (INP) where some of them were not
Baccalaureate Degree holder. Likewise Human Rights before was not strictly observe.
Lastly, when it comes to training, PNP recruits today enjoyed the POI from PPSC
however after graduation, it leaves an impression on their discipline that most of them
disrespect and cannot address their seniors very well. On the other hand, PNP training
before observably employs a barbaric way of learning yet it leaves a strong foundation
of discipline, courtesy and honesty to their seniors and upon rendering police duties and
responsibilities.
 Yes. Before, the applicants are allowed to enter the service even they are not college
graduate. Before, the training was being handled by the PC under military rule in which
they are more physically trained.
 Yes. Nowadays, they trained police officers in actual basis: 70% on the field and 30% on
lecture which is better since they can already apply what they have learned immediately
because of simulation exercises (SIMEX) unlike before, they focused more on physical
training.
 Yes, there was because before, the PNP recruitment training was very rigid and no time
to relax, not like nowadays, PNP recruitment is no longer focus on physical fitness but in
human rights training.

2. With the recent involvement or issues of law enforcers particularly those who are new in PNP
service, is there a need to educate them as to the investigative process? Why?
 Education on investigative process is very much needed for the work of a police, crimes
are everywhere, and we might let an innocent person suffer behind bars or a guilty one
at large if wrong investigations are made.
 Yes. In order that newly PNP member will gain appropriate basic knowledge on
investigative process for them to fully implement the rule of law.
 Yes. Nowadays, rookie police officers are involved in illegal activities and other
violations. Some of them think that when they wear police uniform, they considered
themselves mighty, without thinking that every movement is being mandated by the
PNP rules and procedures.
 Continuous learning thru conduct of seminars, schooling and information dissemination
especially to the new in the PNP service is needed for them to know the specific rules
and regulations mandated on the guidelines in doing police operations.
 Every police officer needs an investigative education because as to criminality, criminals
are becoming high-tech especially in committing offense, so PNP personnel also need to
 evolve in solving crimes, they need to continuously learn in scientific solving of crimes
for better crime solution.

3. Is it advantageous if a police officer is a criminologist or criminology graduate? Why or why not?

 Advantageous. Criminologists focused on areas of law, law enforcement, criminalistics,
criminal sociology, corrections, crime detection and investigation which are very helpful
foundations to somehow enlighten a person on what are some functions of a police
officer. Other applicants or professionals other than criminologists cannot easily comply
with the mandate of the police service because their initial problem is the basic
knowledge useful to perform their functions.
 Yes. Criminology graduate/criminologists literally have basic subjects on the
implementation of fundamental laws of the land; they were already trained and
educated regarding police work.
 Any course can be qualified as police officers, so I think criminologists and other courses
are I think the same; such difference could only be noticed because not all personnel
have the same attitude. Whether criminologist or not, if you want to become
investigator you can, if you really are dedicated to learn.
 Yes because they already know the specific functions of becoming police officer in which
they are specialized with.

4. Is it beneficial that in the conduct of police operation, there is a need of involvement of

prosecuting office?
 Yes, because the prosecution’s personnel can guide the operatives on the legal process
of the operation.
 Yes, it should be, but maybe physical presence of prosecuting office should no longer be
requested. Guidance and advice is good enough. What is required in a police operation
is its legality; we should adhere to the police operational procedures because if not,
even a real criminal might escape the bar of justice just because of technicalities on
procedures which would be grounds to dismiss the case. What is really needed is their
advice in order to avoid such.
 Yes in some police operations like Search Warrant; Search Warrant on specific laws like
RA 9165 wherein the involvement of prosecuting office were great need in order not to
delay the reglementary period of the accused; specially during weekends and holidays
were mostly in rural areas were observably lacking of duty prosecutors.
 Yes, so that all police operations will be in accordance on the police operational
procedures.
 Yes so that they will be a witness in the conduct of legal operations and they will also
serve as an adviser of what and not to do.

5. With regards to the issues on Human Rights violation by some police officers, what remedies or
solutions would be effective?
 In my personal opinion, maybe the brutalities made by some police officers were the
result of their previous PNP training inside their PNP camp which they still carry even
they’re already outside. Also, some cannot control their emotions wherein they tend to
be impatient or brutal when their abilities were challenged and since they were used to
militaristic training, they sometimes forget that they are different from civilians. To
solve such issues: First, every police officer shall undergo anger management and the
like in order to brief them their limitations and improve their maximum tolerance;
Second, limit the recruitment of non-criminologists since some do not know the real
mandate of police officer; Criminologists studied for 4 years to become police officer on
 the other hand, other professionals aspiring to become police will just acquire that
knowledge for 6 months in training center. As they say, “Little Knowledge is Dangerous”.
 They said that prevention is better than cure. No Crime, No Violence; No Violence, No
Human Rights issues: In rural areas, police officers were barely unseen because higher
headquarters strictly observe the ratio of 1:1,000 total PNP strength. This equation is
not effective since duty of police officers are divided into Two Shifts and as a result,
1:2,000 was being seen. Thus, if there is less personnel in an area for patrolling, the
basic PNP operation creates defects on crime prevention if not attended. If PNP will
prevent crime, then no or less violence will occur. Further on Crime solution process,
PNP members must be equipped with tools or gadgets on all operations with sound
knowledge in dealing suspects or criminals in order not to surpass technicalities and
casualties.
 Continuous seminar to all police officer on Human Rights and other relative laws of rules
and regulations for them to remind the dos and donts whenever they encounter
operations such as arrest of person (with or without warrant) and even detainees.

References/ Persons interviewed:

PINSP ALEXANDER LAROCO

SPO1 Bees Mhark Estabillo
PO3 Ian Blanza
PO3 Richard Laroya
PO1 Brian Padama