Health insurance for PNP personnel on July

By John Genesis A. Damgo

Here’s good news for the 232,000-strong Philippine National Police (PNP)!

PNP chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil yesterday bared all PNP personnel will be receiving health insurance cards beginning next month.

Marbil said each health maintenance organization (HMO) card has PHP40,000 that police officers can use especially during medical emergencies.

"Next month we will be giving yung cards, yung HMO cards, para sa bawat pulis although worth na PHP40,000 yan, maliit lang po but we will make sure na makakatulong sa inyo (Next month we will be giving the cards, the HMO cards for each policeman, although it is only worth PHP40,000, although small but we will make sure that it will help you)," Marbil said during the launch of the PNP Family Day at their Camp Crame headquarters on Saturday.

Marbil said the HMO cards will serve as additional protection for police personnel as they would come handy in emergency cases particularly in the provinces where the PNP does not have hospitals.

“Usually mga (only) private hospitals so instead we give them new cards so they can go anywhere basta accredited yung establishment (as long as the establishment is accredited),” he said.

Marbil also promised to provide legal assistance for police officers facing counter charges, one of the challenges they face in the performance of their duties.

Highest standards

On Sunday, Marbil urged all police officers to uphold the law and maintain the highest standards of integrity, particularly concerning Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs).

He also reiterated that any police personnel involved in protecting illegal POGO operations will face appropriate disciplinary actions.

"Integrity and accountability are the cornerstones of our public service. We remain committed to ensuring that our officers uphold these values," he said in a statement.

The PNP has intensified campaign against illegal POGOs, resulting in several successful operations in coordination with the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) and the Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG).