Police must remove “unauthorized” tattoos by October 3
Police Lt. Col. Gerard Ace Pelare, spokesman of the Police Regional Office Central Visayas (PRO-7). | CDN photo/ Emmariel Ares
CEBU CITY, Philippines – Members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) have until October 3 to remove their “unauthorized” tattoos.
Police Lieutenant Colonel Gerard Ace Pelare, spokesman for the Regional Police Office in Central Visayas (PRO-7), said those with tattoos will have to bear the cost of removing those tattoos themselves.
Failure to fulfil the PNP’s mandate is tantamount to “Neglect of duty or irregularity in the performance of duty,” he said.
READ: PNP gives police officers 3 months to remove visible tattoos
On July 3 last year, the PNP issued a memorandum on the removal of tattoos from police officers. The memorandum gives tattooed police officers three months, or until October 3, to comply.
According to Pelare, unauthorized tattoos are those that are considered “extremist, racist, discriminatory and promote violence.”
READ: PNP issues memo to regulate visible tattoos on personnel and applicants
However, aesthetic tattoos or those that have a beauty-related purpose, such as eyebrow, eyeliner or lip tattoos, are exempt from the PNP guideline.
PRO-7 Inventory
Pelare said PRO-7 in Central Visayas is currently conducting an inventory to compile a complete list of active personnel with tattoos.
READ: Lawmaker to PNP: Drop ‘unconstitutional’ policy on tattooed cops
Those who were already listed with unauthorized tattoos have already been informed of the need to remove those tattoos.
“But we are very confident that they will comply because we know that the PNP people are professional and flexible. We know that they will comply. And this is for the good of the organization. Some may say this is not their policy, but the PNP has its own internal rules and regulations. And they have to follow them,” Pelare said.
Pelare said the policy was developed to ensure that police officers presented a professional demeanor.
He clarified that it was never the organization’s intention to imply that a tattoo “bad.”
“We want to make sure our police officers look professional and are respectful. We want to stress that we are not saying tattoos are bad. That is not the concept we are trying to spread here,” he added.
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