MANILA - President Rodrigo Duterte has signed a law that modifies the rank classification in the Philippine National Police and standardizes how police officers are called.

The Palace has yet to release a copy of the measure, but former special assistant to the president Christopher “Bong” Go confirmed that Duterte has already signed the law.

The law amended Section 28 of the Department of the Interior and Local Government Act of 1990 and takes on similar rank titles in the military.

Under the amended law, the PNP rank classification shall be as follows:

• Director General to Police General
• Deputy Director General to Police Lieutenant General
• Director to Police Major General
• Chief Superintendent to Police Brigadier General
  
• Senior Superintendent to Police Colonel
• Superintendent to Police Lieutenant Colonel
• Chief Inspector to Police Major
• Senior Inspector to Police Captain
• Inspector to Police Lieutenant
  
• Senior Police Officer IV to Police Executive Master Sergeant
• Senior Police Officer III to Police Chief Master Sergeant
• Senior Police Officer II to Police Senior Master Sergeant
  
• Senior Police Officer I to Police Master Sergeant
• Police Officer III to Police Staff Sergeant
• Police Officer II to Police Corporal
• Police Officer I to Patrolman/Patrolwoman

Duterte and police officials had backed the modification of the PNP rank classification.

Sen. Panfilo Lacson, one of the authors of the measure and a former PNP chief, stressed that the civilian character of the PNP shall remain despite the change in the rank classification.