PHILIPPINE National Police Chief Ronald dela Rosa on Monday opposed the lifting of the “no tattoo” rule among police recruits and strictly maintained not to accept any prospect with tattoo.
Instead, Dela Rosa called on would-be police recruits with tattoo to remove them before finally deciding to enter into the police institution.
“We have a standing policy relating to that prohibiting to recruit people with tattoo, but we are not rejecting them outrightly. If they want to become a policeman, go home and remove your tattoo,” said Dela Rosa in a Monday press briefing in Camp Crame.
Aside from the PNP’s strict policy on tattoo, the defense department also opposed the of lifting the “no tattoo” rule among police recruits.
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said having a “tattoo are (sic) ugly and connotes gangster image.”
“The Army is an old-fashioned organization in some ways. We have standards of behavior that goes back to medieval times and they are still relevant today: Following orders, wearing approved uniform and badges, fitting into an organization, having a regulation haircut, regulated daily activities, be physically fit,” Lorenzana said.
Dela Rosa and Lorenzana’s response surfaced after Davao City Rep. Karlo Nograles called on the PNP and the Armed Forces of the Philippines to lift some of their “archaic” requirement for recruits, to include the “no tattoo” rule.
However, Nograles said it was inappropriate to automatically associate or judge individuals with tattoos as being criminals, rebels or undesirables for their organizations.
“Like the nonsensical minimum height requirement of at least five feet for both the military and police service, the no tattoo rule must be done away with for the simple reason that it is not a good measure of
one’s capabilities or heart on the battlefield,” he said.
Dela Rosa admitted the recruitment system in the police force was somewhat discriminatory as emphasized to maintain the tradition.
The PNP, AFP and the Philippine Coast Guard currently prohibit the recruitment of individuals with tattoos, viewing it as “physical defects” that disqualify applicants.
Meanwhile, Dela Rosa welcomed the removal of the height requirement policy among police recruits.