MANILA: The Philippine National Police (PNP) is considering raising its recruitment quota for women from 10 per cent to 20 per cent, citing the growing leadership of female officers and their role in maintaining peace and order.
The PNP on Sunday noted the growing representation of women in leadership roles, highlighting their influence in guiding the organisation, especially as the country celebrates National Women’s Month this March.
Based on PNP data as of February 2026, women account for 52,223 out of 236,493 personnel, or 22.08 perc ent of the total workforce.This figure includes 43,847 uniformed personnel, 8,098 non-uniformed staff and 278 cadets.
“I am immensely proud. This is not just a number but proof of our evolving culture,” said PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr. in a statement.
“In the PNP, gender is not the basis of competence. It is service and dedication that matter. Our women are no longer just supporting. They are leading,” Nartatez added.
The PNP chief is advocating for the permanent adoption of a 20 percent recruitment quota for women—double the current 10 percent requirement.
“Female police officers bring a unique perspective to the field, often prioritising empathy and mediation,” Nartatez said.
“They excel in handling sensitive cases to make people in the community feel that their voices are heard, and feel safer,” he noted.
The initiative supports the directive of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. and Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla to advance gender-responsive governance and enhance women’s participation in public service.
“We have shattered the glass ceiling. From field operations to high-level commands, we give them equal opportunities,” Nartatez said in mixed English and Filipino.
“We have female generals and provincial directors leading with excellence because we value competence above all else,” he added.
Lawmakers in both the Senate and the House of Representatives have previously introduced measures seeking to raise the women’s recruitment quota in the PNP, aiming to improve gender representation and strengthen the role of women in law enforcement.
In 2019, the House of Representatives gave unanimous approval to a bill aiming to boost the female police recruitment quota from 10 to 20 percent.
HB 9058 mandates that the PNP dedicate 15 per cent of its yearly recruitment, training and education quota to women within five years, later increasing it to 20 per cent.
Senate Bill No. 961, filed in August 2025 and pending in the committee, aims to increase the yearly recruitment quota for female police officers from 10 per cent to 15 per cent, with plans to reach 20 percent within five years. - Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN
