Senate repeals height limit for law enforcers

The Senate today passed on third and final reading a bill which seeks to eliminate discrimination among law enforcers by repealing the height requirement for applicants to the police force, fire protection and the jail management and penology bureaus.

Senate Bill 3217, introduced by Sen. Gregorio Honasan II, was approved with 19 affirmative votes, zero negative vote and zero abstention. The senators who voted for the approval of the proposed measure were Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, Senate President Pro-Tempore Jinggoy Estrada, Senate Majority Floor Leader Tito Sotto, Joker Arroyo, Pia Cayetano, Frank Drilon, Chiz Escudero, T.G. Guingona, Gringo Honasan, Ping Lacson, Lito Lapid, Loren Legarda, Bongbong Marcos, Serge Osmeña, Koko Pimentel, Ralph Recto, Bong Revilla Jr., Sonny Trillanes and Manny Villar.

"Heightism" or discrimination based on height is a reality today that has been practice among law enforcement agencies in the country," Honasan said.

He said the propose legislation pursues to repeal the height requirement imposed on the Section 30 (h) of Republic Act (RA) 6975 or the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Act of 1990, as amended by RA 1998.

As provided in RA 1998, known as the Philippine National Police Reform and Reorganization Act of 1998, the height must be at least 1.62 meters and 1.57 meters for male and female, respectively.

"Height discrimination unnecessarily limits quality choice while promoting social injustice. Height may be a consideration in tasks requiring certain physical activities but not all who are short are physically, much less intellectually, impaired," Honasan, a former military official, said.

He said Asian have proven their worth in war as well in peace though they are shorter in height than their Western counterparts.

"The Philippine Constitution affirms the principles of employment and non-discrimination. While it is right for hiring institutions to employ people for their intellect, for their drive and for what they can bring to the organization, it is wrong to deny them for reasons of creed, color, culture, gender identity or height," Honasan said. (Pilar Macrohon, PRIB)