ONLY 16 percent passed the National Police Commission administered police examinations held last October 23, 2011 in designated schools in the metropolis and 19 testing centers nationwide.

Napolcom data showed a total of 6,874 or 16.37% out of 41,980 examinees passed the examinations.

The result of the Philippine National Police entrance and promotional examinations was officially released by Interior and Local Government Secretary and Napolcom chair Jesse M. Robredo.

Napolcom statistics reveal that in the PNP entrance test, a requirement for initial appointment to the rank of police officer 1, only 838 (3.97%) out of the 21,097 examinees passed, the lowest recorded by the Commission since October 23, 2005 when the passing rate was 4.80%.

Of the 20,883 examinees who took the promotional tests, only 6,036 (12.40%) passed, with 3,381 in the police officer exam, 2,572 in the Senior Police officer exam, 41 in the Inspector exam and 42 in the Superintendent exam.

“The low passing rate in the entrance exam may be attributed to the Commission’s continuous upgrading of standards on its police examinations in line with its sustained effort to professionalize the PNP by ensuring that only the best and most qualified individuals are admitted in the police service,” Robredo said.

Napolcom vice-chair and executive officer Eduardo Escueta said that the Commission is at the forefront in its campaign for an improved quality of police service.

Escueta added that the official and final list of successful examinees is already posted at the Napolcom central office in Makati City and can be viewed at the Napolcom website at www.napolcom.gov.ph.                Alvin Murcia