Davao City Representative Karlo Nograles said on Tuesday that the Armed Forces and National Police should junk some of its “archaic” requirements for potential recruits, most notably the “no tattoo rule.”
“For our military and police organizations to bar the entry of capable and well-meaning Filipinos in their ranks on the basis of tattoos is quite archaic, if only because tattoos are no longer taboo in this day and age. Thus, we call for the removal of this ban,” Nograles, chairperson of the House committee on appropriations, said.
Enlistment of a person exposed tattoos is currently prohibited by the police, the military and even the Coast Guard since they view such body markings as “physical defects” that “demerit or disqualify their application.”
“I know a lot of people whose applications were rejected on the basis of their having tattoos. They said that it felt unfair to be rejected and I can’t help but agree with them,” Nograles said.
He said he finds it incorrect to automatically associate or judge tattooed individuals as being criminals, rebels, or undesirables.
“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,” Nograles said.
He said it is more important for the applicant to be physically fit, with good moral character and no criminal record.
“If the applicant meets these requirements then he or she should not be denied the right to serve the country,” said Nograles, who is being groomed to be part of the administration’s Senate slate for the midterm elections next year.
If anything, Nograles said that Philippine history is replete with instances of bravery by tattooed Filipino warriors in the face of foreign conquerors. This is because tattoos have been a part of the country’s rich culture even before the arrival of the Spaniards in the 16th century.
“The Spanish conquistadores branded these Filipino warriors as the 'pintados' because of their ornate and at times intimidating body markings. Ultimately, the foreigners admired these painted people for their fierceness and courage,” he said.
But Philippine National Police chief Ronald dela Rosa continue to reject proposals to lift the existing policy banning tattoos for policemen.
Dela Rosa also rejected to reconsider the “no-tattoo” rule, not just for police recruits but for government troops in general.
“It’s ugly. Forgive us if we have inherited that standard. Would you like to see your policemen in uniform having tattoos all over his body?” Dela Rosa said.
He also issued apology to people who reacted aggressively to his strong stand not to entertain applicants to the service with tattoos.
“To those who reacted, sorry, because we have to maintain the standard,” Dela Rosa said.
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana shared Dela Rosa’s position, saying that having a “tattoo are (sic) ugly and connotes gangster image.”
The PNP personnel division has enumerated requirements for police applicants: He should be a citizen of the Republic of the Philippines with good moral character; having passed psychiatric or psychological, drug and physical test administered only by the PNP.
The prospective applicant must also be eligible, either having passed PNP entrance examination supervised by the National Police Commission, in consonance with Republic Act No. 1080; or the BAR and Board Examinations and Civil Service eligibility to college graduates;
He must not have been dishonorably discharged from military employment or dismissed for cause from any civilian position in the government; not have been convicted by final judgment to an offense or crime involving moral turpitude;
The PNP personnel disvision also requires applicant to be at least one meter and sixty-two meters (1.62m) in height for male and one meter and fifty-seven centimeters (1.57m) for females.
He/she also should not weigh more than five kilograms (5kg) from the weight corresponding to age and sex and not be less that 21 or more than 30 years of age.
The National Police Commission has earlier lifted the height requirement for police applicants for the forthcoming April 22 police examinations.