The Criminologist Legislative Agenda

THE CRIMINOLOGIST LEGISLATIVE AGENDA

By: Dr.Gerry J. Caño

The Bachelor of Science in Criminology program has been in this country for more than 50 years already. It has been a witness to the ups and downs of our Democracy, Law Enforcement, and the Peace and Order Condition of this country, and it has unwittingly registered its contributions to the annals of Philippine history.

The program took around 18 years to be given legal mandate as a criminology profession. Republic Act 6506 “AN ACT CREATING THE BOARD OF EXAMINERS FOR CRIMINOLOGISTS IN THE PHILIPPINES AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES” which was approved last July 1, 1972 however, the realization of this law was only on April 1988 when the first Criminologists Licensure Examination was conducted. From then on the Criminology profession has evolved and it has provided the paradigm for the professionalization of the law enforcement service of the country in particular and the public safety in general.

With the advent of information technology the landscape of law enforcement has dramatically change, laws have to be passed in order to catch-up with the fast pace of development both in criminality and law enforcement. After more than 35 years from the approval of R.A. 6506, it was only on March 13, 2008 that the Hall of the House of Representatives take the initial action of amending R.A.6506 through the relentless and gallant effort of the Congressman from the Second District  of Cagayan de Oro City Congressman RUFUS B. RODRIGUEZ.

House Bill 3757 “The Philippine Criminology Profession Act of 2008” had laid the array of fields and interests for the criminology profession notwithstanding the lift it made among criminologists in the Philippines. Thereby shaping the bedrock, and the metes and bounds for the future of the criminology profession in this country.

This act is not a battle for recognition but rather an exercise of a right. A right that has been long past overdue, neglected and worst invaded by people and organization with vested interest. Who would like to fit-in their selves in the criminology profession without first getting into the rigors of its academic discipline. The B.S. Criminology program is the only formal educational program in this country that have provided the fundamental principles of Public Safety, Law Enforcement, Criminal Investigation, Industrial Security, Correctional Administration, Fire and Arson Investigation, and Forensic Sciences, etc. such fact is even a judicial notice to all and therefore all rights imbedded therewith should be afforded to all its practitioners.

The passage of R.A. 4864 “The Police Act of 1966” did not even recognized that there is such a formal education as B.S. Criminology in spite of the fact that the Philippine College of Criminology today, has offered and produce graduates of the program more than 10 years before of the passage of R.A. 4864.

The Integrated National Police empowered through P.D. 765 which was approved on August 8, 1975 in like manner failed to give due recognition and value to the criminology profession. Wherein the academic program of criminology was even way ahead before the Philippine government was able to set –up its crime laboratory. The academic curriculum of the B.S. Criminology program is a look alike if not a mimic of the curriculum of B.S. Public Safety a program offered in the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA). This would only manifest that in deed products of the PNPA and Criminologists have the same academic foundation. However, their disparity in opportunity and rights is unparalleled for it has no basis of similar opportunities, rights and benefits.         

The EDSA I revolution pave the way for the passage of R.A. 6975, we were glad since it mentioned and recognized the criminology field as a potent contributor to the human resource of the technical and leadership of the various units of the Philippine National Police, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, and Bureau of Fire Protection.

Seven years after the approval of R.A. 6975 in January of 1991, the Philippine Congress amended it in 1998, R.A. 8551 was passed into law and it has empowered and recognized the value of criminology graduates and most importantly the criminologists. The efforts of the criminology predecessors is now reap by the new breed of criminologists benefiting not only from the academic training inculcated but more so with legwork, networking, linkages, and voluntarism of the predecessors of the criminology discipline curving the kind of criminology education and the benefits attached thereto.

However, we the stake holders of the criminology profession has a duty to pay it forward to the next generation of criminologists. While we recognized the rights and benefits we enjoy today as criminologists we feel its not yet enough and complete. We need to push more legal mandates that would empower us and protect this profession. Protect not only from the invaders but, protect the name that it would not be tarnished nor blemished with corruption in material, moral, ethical, academic, political, and social context.

We have strongly supported the action initiated by the Congressman from the Second District of Zamboanga Del Sur, Congressman ANTONIO H. CERELLES, who vigorously filled House Bill 6497 and House Bill 6498 amending the provisions of R.A. 8551 and R.A. 9263 respectively. The amendment is anchored primarily on the qualification of the PNP, BJMP, and BFP that the minimum qualification for appointment to any of these agencies should be B.S. Criminology graduate, and must have passed the Licensure Examination. We need to embrace wholeheartedly these developments as this would cement the destiny for a better future of our criminologists.

I am calling all criminologists to all rally behind these House Bills and pull our resources together, as we push our respective congressman in our respective congressional district to support these initiatives. If our lobby efforts would not catapult to its realization under this administration then we should not rest our laurels nor be disheartened, but rather we should make use of it as our conduit and stream of action, motivation, and inspiration, before our expiration.

We should be the change we want to see in the future. Let our action be the audacity of hope for the next generation. As we create this condition we are creating the tipping point of our profession and blink it to wherever we will be.