PNP rule banning tattoos unconstitutional

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THE PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) is urged to put a stop to its policy banning visible tattoos for its personnel as it is unconstitutional, a lawmaker said on Wednesday.

“The PNP should discard that policy now before they get into legal trouble for the unconstitutionality of their policy,” Manila Rep. Joel R. Chua said in a statement in Filipino, noting that tattoos are an art form that is protected by the Constitution under the freedom of expression clause.

Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil, PNP Chief, issued a memorandum last month banning visible tattoos for patrolmen and those intending to enter the police force.

Police personnel with visible tattoos before the implementation of the memorandum are given three months to have them removed.

But Mr. Chua argued that it could be a health risk to force police officers to remove their visible tattoos due to the risk of infection.

“There’s no legal basis for the PNP’s new directive,” he said in Filipino. “It is not written under the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees or in the law that instituted the PNP.” — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio