Lateral Entry of Officers into the PNP.
Section 33
SEC. 33. Lateral Entry of Officers into the PNP. — In general, all original appointments of commissioned officers in the PNP shall commence with the rank of inspector, to include all those with highly technical qualifications applying for the PNP technical services, such as dentists, optometrists, nurses, engineers, and graduates of forensic sciences. Doctors of medicine, members of the Bar, and chaplains shall be appointed to the rank of senior inspector in their particular technical service. Graduates of the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) shall be automatically appointed to the initial rank of inspector. Licensed criminologists may be appointed to the rank of inspector to fill up any vacancy after promotions from the ranks are compacted.