16/04/2026
326 NEW PNP LIEUTENANTS RECEIVE RANKS, BADGE OF HONOR, AND UNIT ASSIGNMENTS
A total of 326 newly commissioned Police Lieutenants of the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) “SILANG-PAGLAOM” Class of 2026 formally entered the ranks of the Philippine National Police (PNP) during the Donning of Ranks, Badge of Honor Ceremony, and Presentation of Unit Assignment held this morning in front of the PNP National Headquarters Building in Camp Crame, Quezon City.
The ceremony was led by the Chief, PNP, Police General Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr., who personally donned the ranks and bestowed the PNP Badge of Honor to the newly appointed officers, marking their official transition from cadets to full-fledged police lieutenants.
In his keynote message, PGEN Nartatez underscored the significance of the occasion as a defining moment in the lives of the graduates, describing it as not just a ceremony but a turning point in their journey of public service.
“This is the moment when your dreams put on a uniform, when your sacrifices take shape in the ranks you now wear, and when your names begin to carry responsibility far greater than yourselves,” he said.
He emphasized that while the graduates stand proud and accomplished, their true service begins beyond the walls of the academy.
“This is not the finish line. This is where the real journey begins. Hindi na ito simulation. Hindi na ito training exercise. This is where decisions are real, where consequences are immediate, and where the lives of our people will depend on you.”
The Chief PNP also reminded the new officers that the badge they now wear represents not authority, but accountability.
“The badge you wear is not a symbol of authority—it is a symbol of accountability.”
He further challenged the “SILANG-PAGLAOM” Class of 2026 to live up to their name as a generation of hope, stressing that hope must be proven daily through integrity, discipline, and service.
“Kapag nasa kalsada na kayo, wala nang applause. Wala nang medalya. Ang meron na lang ay ang mamamayan—umaasa, nagmamasid, at huhusga.”
Amid current issues faced by the PNPA following a hazing incident, the institution reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening reforms and ensuring that it continues to produce officers grounded in discipline, integrity, and professionalism, fully committed to upholding the highest standards of the police service.
The newly commissioned Police Lieutenants will be deployed nationwide in various units of the PNP. Of the 326 officers, 50 will be assigned to the Special Action Force, 26 to Police Regional Office 1, 27 to Police Regional Office 9, 34 to Police Regional Office 10, 32 to Police Regional Office 11, 29 to Police Regional Office 12, 37 to Police Regional Office BAR, 27 to Police Regional Office CARAGA, 22 to Police Regional Office MIMAROPA, and 42 to Police Regional Office Negros Island Region.
PGEN Nartatez reminded the officers that the true test of their profession happens outside ceremonies such as this, when no one is watching and when decisions carry real consequences.
“The nation does not expect you to be perfect. But it expects you to be honest, brave, and committed. Hindi kayo pinili para maging ordinaryo—pinili kayo para maging halimbawa.”
He concluded by expressing full trust and confidence in the new officers as they begin their operational deployment across the country.
“Go out there and prove that you are worthy of the ranks you wear today. Be the officers our country needs, be the leaders your fellow officers deserve, and be the hope that our people can rely on.”
The ceremony marks a significant milestone for the PNPA “SILANG-PAGLAOM” Class of 2026 as they formally begin their active service in the Philippine National Police, guided by the principle of Bagong PNP para sa Bagong Pilipinas: Serbisyong Mabilis, Tapat at Nararamdaman
(PNP-PIO)
