Bicam repeals height limit for aspiring cops, firemen, guards

The Senate today ratified a bicameral conference committee report on a bill repealing the height requirement for applicants to the Philippine National Police (PNP), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP).

Senator Gregorio Honasan, who led the Senate panel in the bicameral conference committee, earlier said that "heightism" or discrimination based on height, has been practiced among law enforcement agencies in the country.

He said that height discrimination unnecessarily limits quality choice and promotes social injustice. Asians, he added, have proven their worth in war as well as in peace though they are shorter in height than their Western counterparts.

Once enacted into law, the height requirement imposed on Section 30 of Republic Act No. 6975 or the Department of Interior and Local Government Act of 1990 as amended by Republic Act 8551 or the Philippine National Police Reform and Reorganization Act of 1998 will be immediately repealed.

The height requirement for applicants to the PNP, BFP and BJMP under Sections 15 and 16 of Republic Act No. 8551 and Section 4 (h) of Republic Act No. 9263 or the Bureau of Fire Protection and Bureau of Jail Management and Penology Professionalization Act of 2004, as amended by Republic Act No. 9592 will also be repealed.

As provided in Republic Act of 1998, known as the Philippine National Police Reform and Reorganization Act of 1998, the height must be at least 5'4" and 5'2" for male and female, respectively.

"Applicants to the PNP, BFP and BJMP, who were conditionally appointed by the PNP, BFP and BJMP as uniformed personnel and were required but have not submitted their corresponding waiver for the height requirement, and whose appointments have been pending with the Civil Service Commission, upon the effectivity of this Act, are deemed to have complied with such requirement," the bicameral report said. (PilarS. Macrohon, PRIB)