SENATOR Imee Marcos is pushing for a measure conferring the cadets of the Philippine National Police Academy or PNPA the status of a government employee and granting them with Civil Service Eligibility and benefits.

In her Senate Bill 2754, or the proposed PNPA Cadet Act, Marcos said PNP cadets, while undergoing rigorous trainings, are receiving monthly pay and allowance of P35,000.

The senator also explained that the PNPA cadets’ status is equivalent to a job order employee of the government who is receiving salary without the corresponding benefits.

The Civil Service Commission also ruled that PNPA cadets are not government employee and they are excluded from the coverage of Civil Service Law and Rules.

Marcos said this is in contrast to Philippine Military Academy cadets who are recognized as government employees.

“It is for the very reason that the proposed measure seeks to confer the PNPA cadets their rightful status as government employees affording them civil service eligibility, salaries, benefits and privileges,” Marcos said in her explanatory note.

In addition, the lawmaker said PNPA cadets will have the same benefits as regular PNP personnel in case of disability, sickness or even death during training.