ALL personnel of the Police Regional Office in Central Visayas (PRO 7) will be subjected to an “inventory” to identify who among them have tattoos that are visible when in uniform.
Police Lt. Col. Gerard Ace Pelare, spokesperson of PRO 7 Director Brig. Gen. Anthony Aberin, bared this on Tuesday, April 23, 2024, after the Philippine National Police (PNP) released a policy requiring its personnel to remove all visible tattoos except those done aesthetically such as, but not limited to eyebrows, eyeliners and lip tattoos.
Those with tattoos that can be covered by their uniform need not remove them.
However, they must declare these tattoos in an affidavit and cannot get new ones on any part of their body while still in service, Pelare said.
The new policy contained in a memorandum circular applies to both uniformed and non-uniformed personnel. According to the PNP, the rule aims to maintain a professional image for its police officers.
Process
Pelare said the PNP will follow a process for its implementation.
Considered unauthorized or prohibited are tattoos that are indecent, offensive, racist, sexist, extremist, and ethnically or religiously discriminatory.
Pelare said all city and provincial police offices have been directed to conduct a body check on all their personnel to identify tattoos that need to be removed.
“Of course, what we are going to do here in PRO 7 is to make sure that the policy will be implemented. So part of that is inventory and those who have tattoos that are not visible need to execute an affidavit,” said Pelare in a mix of Cebuano and English.
He added that the PNP has long been strict in hiring applicants for police service. One of PNP’s requirements is for the applicant to not bear a body tattoo.
He admitted some police personnel got their tattoos after their applications were accepted.
The PRO 7 warned that its personnel who will be found in violation of the policy will face administrative charges.
Pelare stressed that the PNP is an organization that has policies and rules, and those who go against these rules will be charged. / AYB / LMY