PNP, AFP order full review of disability discharge rules for injured officers

Acting Philippine National Police (PNP) chief has ordered a full review of the organization’s disability discharge policies on Tuesday to ensure that officers who suffer life-altering injuries receive fair, updated, and responsive support.

PLTGEN Nartatez said the directive is part of internal reforms to guarantee that wounded law enforcement personnel receive the recognition, benefits, and opportunities they rightfully deserve.

The move follows President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s order for the Department of National Defense and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to reassess their disability discharge rules, after reacting to a viral video posted by an Army captain who went blind after an explosion.

PLTGEN Nartatez directed the PNP Health Service and the Directorate for Personnel and Records Management (DPRM) to begin an audit of existing disability discharge procedures, focusing on outdated provisions and areas in need of improvement.

“The Philippine National Police has established policies on complete disability discharge. But with the instruction of the President, we are now looking at our procedures to ensure they are updated, fair, and responsive. If there’s a need for a parallel review, PNP is ready to do that,” Nartatez said.

Under Republic Act 6975, or the DILG Act of 1990, Section 73 states that PNP personnel who incur “total permanent physical disability” in the line of duty may be retired or separated depending on their years of service.

As part of the review, PLTGEN Nartatez said the PNP will engage in consultations with the DILG and other security agencies to harmonize disability ratings, medical evaluation standards, and benefit computations across the uniformed services.

Nartatez reiterated that the organization remains committed to improving welfare programs for their injured officers, including medical care, financial assistance, counseling, and reintegration support.

Meanwhile, the AFP said that their disability discharge rules are also under review. AFP spokesperson Colonel Francel Margareth Padilla highlighted that they are conducting a comprehensive reassessment to ensure that wounded and disabled personnel “will not be left out.”

“We are conducting a comprehensive review of this existing policy to ensure that no wounded or disabled personnel are left out, especially if they got this because it's in the line of duty,” Padilla said.

The soldier in the viral video is Philippine Army Captain Jerome Jacuba, who lost his eyesight after an explosion in Maguindanao in 2016 and was issued a complete disability discharge that reportedly ended his career as a soldier.