A total of 25 licensed professionals took their oaths as new police commissioned officers of the Philippine National Police (PNP) under the 2026 Lateral Entry Program to fill-up requirements for medical, psychological, and forensic operations in the police force.
In a statement on Wednesday, PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr. said the new officers carry a critical responsibility beyond their professional credentials.
“Your expertise is more than a professional qualification as it is also a responsibility to serve the Filipino people with competence, integrity, and compassion. Use your knowledge to strengthen police health services, improve forensic investigations, and help ensure that every service we deliver meets the highest standards of professionalism,” he said.
Nartatez, who served as administering officer, was represented by Lt. Gen Wilson Joseph Lopez, OIC deputy chief for administration, during the ceremony where the newly inducted technical officers received their ranks, held at Bulwagan Lapu-Lapu in Camp Crame on Tuesday.
Of the 25 officers, 14 were assigned to the PNP Health Service, including five medical doctors, four dentists and five psychologists. The remaining 11 were deployed to the PNP Forensic Group, consisting of one medical doctor, one odontologist and nine chemists.
The lateral entry program allows the PNP to recruit professionals with specialized qualifications for functions that require technical expertise beyond regular police training.
Their addition is expected to reinforce the organization’s ability to provide medical and psychological support to personnel while strengthening evidence examination and criminal investigations.
This is in line with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., through the guidance of Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla, to enhance the professionalism, capability, and responsiveness of government institutions while improving public service delivery.
To maximize the contribution of the newly inducted officers, Nartatez directed the concerned offices to assess healthcare and psychological services across police units nationwide so that the PNP could identify gaps in medical care, mental health support, and access to specialists among personnel.
He also ordered the promotion of professional development programs and closer coordination among technical officers, investigators, medical personnel, and other operational units to ensure that specialized expertise is effectively shared throughout the organization.
“Professionalism is measured not only by how we enforce the law but also by the quality of our services and the integrity of our decisions. By putting specialized knowledge to work in personnel welfare and evidence-based investigations, we can strengthen public trust through results that are accurate, timely, and accountable,” Nartatez said. (PNA)
