From 10% to 20%: PNP wants to double women recruitment quota

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police is backing proposals to increase the recruitment quota for women.

The PNP said Sunday, March 22 that it is open to doubling the recruitment quota for women from the current 10%. Police chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said he supports a permanent 20% quota to ensure a steady pipeline of female officers.

The proposal comes as several bills have been filed in Congress seeking to expand women's participation in law enforcement.

PNP data show that women now make up 52,223 of the police force's 236,493 personnel, or 22.08% as of February 2026.

This includes 43,847 uniformed personnel, 8,098 non-uniformed staff and 278 cadets.

"I am immensely proud. This is not just a number but proof of our evolving culture," Nartatez said in a statement.

The PNP said more women are taking on key roles across the organization, from field operations to senior leadership positions.

"Sa PNP, hindi gender ang batayan ng kakayahan, ang serbisyo at dedikasyon ang mahalaga," Nartatez said. ("In the PNP, gender is not the basis of ability. Service and dedication are more important.")

Nartatez said female officers bring strengths in handling sensitive cases and community engagement.

"Female police officers bring a unique perspective to the field, often prioritizing empathy and mediation," he said.

Push for institutional change. The PNP chief said increasing the quota would help sustain the rise of women in leadership roles.

"We have shattered the glass ceiling. From field operations to high-level commands, binibigyan natin sila ng pantay na pagkakataon," he said.

The move aligns with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s directive to promote gender-responsive governance and expand opportunities for women in public service.