By Genalyn Kabiling

President Duterte has signed a law regulating the practice of criminology profession in the country.

Republic Act No. 11131, also known as the Philippine Criminology Profession Act of 2018, aims to govern the examination, registration and licensure of criminologists as well as supervision and regulation of such practice.

President Rodrigo Roa (ROBINSON NIÑAL JR./PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)

“The State recognizes the importance of criminology professional in national security, public safety, peace and order, and in nation-building and development,” the law read.

“Hence it shall develop and nurture competent, virtuous, productive and well-rounded criminologists whose standards of professional practice and service shall be excellent, qualitative, world-class and globally competitive through sacred, honest, effective and credible licensure examinations, coupled with programs and activities that would promote professional growth,” it added.

The new law creates the Professional Regulatory Board for Criminologists that will administer, supervise and monitor licensure examination, registration, membership and practice of criminology. The board will also promulgate and adopt the code of ethics and code of good governance for the practice of criminology.

The law defines criminology as the “scientific study of crimes, criminals, and victims” as well as “deals with the prevention and solution of crimes.”

The practice of criminology includes activities performed in line with law enforcement, teaching criminology, rehabilitation and penal institution, and criminology research.

The new law also governs the development of the professional competence of criminologists through Continuing Professional Development.

To pass the licensure exam fo criminologist, a candidate must obtain 75 percent with no grade less than 60 percent in any given subject.

In case the examinee obtains an average of 75 percent but has a grade below 60 percent in any subject, the result of the examinee shall be deferred and will be required to retake such subject. The deferred examinee will be allowed to retake once within two years to obtain a grade not lower than 80 percent on the subject to be considered to have passed the license examination.