In coordination and partnership with the Professional Criminologists Association of the Philippines

(PCAP) and the Professional Regulatory Board of Criminology, the Professional Regulation Commission
initiated the 1st Criminology Summit with the theme, “Criminology Licensure Examination: Its
Challenges and Changes in View of the Emerging ASEAN Integration”. The same was held last August
17 – 19, 2015 at Bayview Park Hotel, UN Avenue. Corner Roxas Blvd. Ermita , Manila.

The culmination of the said activity has been successful having been more than 500 hundred
professionals coming from different regions and provinces all over the country attended the said event.
The goal of finalizing the NEW Table of Specification (TOS) for a better Criminology Licensure
Examination has been magnificently met.

On the first day, Hon. Ruben A. Sta Teresa, PhD,the Lead Convenor of the Criminology Summit,
delivered the welcome address, followed by Hon. Gerry J. Cano, the PCAP President, who discussed
the rationale of the summit.

The same was followed by a talk about The Philippine Qualifications Framework, The ASEAN Mutual
Recognition Agreement, and The Legal Basis and Processes of Continuing Professional Development,
by Lord Louis P. Valera, OIC International Affairs Division, and Atty. Ramil G. Gabao, PhD, the Chairman
of the Board of Criminology. The first day was concluded by a discussion about Revisiting the
Criminologist Licensure Examination Table of Specification, and Syllabus: Its Scope and Limitations by
Hon. George O. Fernandez.

The second day started with a discussion about Developing Board Examination Outcomes-Based Test
Questions and Syllabus facilitated by PRC Consultants and the Presentation of Proposed Table of
Specifications and Syllabus of each of the fields of Criminology, presented by lead presentors and
drafters from different Regions followed by ratification of the participants.

The third and last day of the summit was concluded by the Presentation and Submission of the
Proposed TOS and Syllabus to the Chairman and Members of the Board of Criminology and the
Acceptance messages of Hon. Ruben A. Sta Teresa, PhD , Hon. Ramil G. Gabao Esq., PhD and the Closing
remarks of Hon. George O. Fernandez.

Aside from that, during the two nights of socialization, Dr. Roman K. Manwong, RCrim, MSCrim,PhD
Crim, a well known Criminologist, and Academician ,Author of Various Criminology Books, a well
respected Criminal Justice Professional, discussed about a new development to everyone's attention,
especially within the criminology community, about the move of the PNP to professionalize the police
organization by hiring HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES. A hearing on the PNP Modernization Law was made
in congress on August 13, 2015 chaired by Senator Grace Poe as Chairman of the Committee on Public
Order. Senator Poe’s Senate Bill No. 2363 specifically mentioned that holders of 72 college units and/or
K-12 graduates shall be qualified to join the Philippine National Police. Such a move was backed up by
no other than the newly installed PNP Chief Ricardo Marquez.

He said that, the same idea was started by the former PNP Chief Allan Purisima few months prior to
his suspension and eventually his resignation. However, the criminology community thru the
Professional Criminologists Association of the Philippines (PCAP) strongly reacted against it via a series
of backdoor talks with a few PNP top ranks who love the criminology profession. The PCAP’s move was
made to strike out such plan because it is unfair and prejudicial to the interest of all professionals
(especially licensed by a government entity - Professional Regulation Commission). Moreover, the
PCAP as an organization lobbied support on its legislative agenda which are filed in Congress.

Straight off, Dr. Manwong argued what the heck is in the head of Senator Poe and Chief Marquez in
reviving such an obnoxious plan in seeking HIGH SCHOOL graduate to the police service. While it may
be true that being a professional doesn’t mean being a holder of the baccalaureate degree, but
professionalism should be seen as progressive, liberal minded and goes with academic track.
Professionalism is all about competence and skills.

Such a thought is not even congruent with the advocacy of the government to be globally competitive.
Such a program is completely opposite and clearly not synced with the ASEAN integration qualification
standards and specs. While there may be some good reasons from the senator and the chief about this
moves, but by simple logic, the criminology program is the only field in social sciences that teaches,
speaks about and focused on criminal jurisprudence and procedure, law enforcement, criminal
investigation, criminal justice, penology, sociology of crimes, and forensic sciences. These are subjects
passed into the hands of professional criminologists, thus, they have supposedly been the one to be
hired to work along with all law enforcement and investigative agencies, including other related
plantilla positions in the government services.

The Professional Criminologists Association of the Philippines (PCAP) has been pushing for the
enactment of several bills as part of its legislative agenda (SB No. 1167; S.B No. 1810; HB No. 6736; HB
No. 1977). These agendas, once enacted as laws, would totally address the calls of time and improve
criminology in the country as a major human resource provider for the criminal justice system.
Nonetheless, it appears that our political leaders are underestimating our numbers. According to
statistics there are more than 200, 000 criminology students in this country and growing, more than
120, 000 registered criminologists and growing, plus a nearly 600 schools offering criminology, thus
nearly 600 owners running the business of an educational institution. A growing community, a growing
network. Also, the State recognizes the importance of the criminology profession in national
security, public safety, peace and order, and in nation-building and growth. It should prepare and
nurture competent, virtuous, productive and well-rounded criminologists whose standards of
professional practice and service should be excellent, qualitative, world-class and globally competitive
through sacred, honest, efficient and credible licensure examinations, coupled with programs and
activities that would promote professional growth and maturation.

The said Summit was indeed the perfect time not only to meet good old friends in the field but also to
stand as one for the Criminology Profession.