PNP weeds out a fourth of Western Visayas police wannabes

More than a fourth of 978 police applicants in Western Visayas failed a neuropsychiatric test mandated by the National Police Commission (Napolcom), a regional daily reported over the weekend. Aside from at least 270 applicants who failed the exam, the Philippine National Police (PNP) weeded out another 76 who did not meet the height requirement, that initial screening ended with 356 who failed, according to The Visayan Daily Star. Unlike in the past, the Napolcom used conduct the physical examination first before the neuropsychiatric test to check the recruits’ mental state. The change in sequence was in response to the involvement of a number of PNP members in criminal activities. In the same report, daily cited regional police director Chief Superintendent Cipriano Querol Jr. as saying the PNP will subject the remaining 632 “survivors" to medical and dental exams, agility and drug tests, and panel interviews. The PNP had initially planned to accept into its fold 636 new personnel in the region, but Querol said he expects the regional police to fall short of its recruitment goal with the results of the initial screening that left 622 standing. Successful applicants will take their oath of office this June. — PE/VS, GMA News