The Philippine National Police (PNP) is eyeing to recruit 15,000 new police officers as part of its ongoing campaign to augment the police force.

PNP chief Director General Ricardo Marquez said only 4,600 slots were filled up from the 10,000 slots allocated for the recruitment program.

“We have only filled up 4,600 slots of the 10,000 recruitment quota for this year. By next year, we are allowed again to recruit another 10,000 policemen,” Marquez said.

The recruitment of additional policemen is part of the PNP’s capability enhancement program.

Ideally, police-to-population ratio is one cop for every 500 people. However, at present, it stands at one cop for every 700 people.

Interested applicants may proceed to the nearest police station and start the processing of the necessary requirements.

Aspiring police officers need to take a series of examinations, including an IQ test, which the PNP chief said almost 50 percent of the applicants fail.

Besides said examinations, applicants also need to undergo rigorous training.

Once accepted, the new recruits would take their oaths and be turned over to the Police National Training Institute (PNTI) for the regular year-long field training.