Press Release
March 21, 2009

Loren: Backbone, not balls, needed by women in male-dominated PNP

Senator Loren Legarda lauded today the historic first achieved by Cadette Roan Marie Dinlo Bascugin who graduated valedictorian of batch 2009 of the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA).

"By leading a field of 304 cadets, the 22-year-old Bascugin, a native of Cavite, showed that a woman can top a primarily male-dominated field," Loren said.

As the first woman to occupy the post of majority floor leader during her first term at the Upper Chamber, Loren said she shared the experience and sense of accomplishment of Roan Marie.

"I found that to be entrusted with a position of leadership did not necessarily mean that I had to abandon my being a woman and play like a man in the still male-dominated senate," said Loren.

"I quickly learned that to earn the respect of my male colleagues, I did not have to be, so to speak, 'a woman with balls' but simply a woman with a strong backbone."

Loren said Bascugin and all the other women who would serve and who are already serving in the Philippine National Police (PNP) are empowering women in the country.

She explained that more female police officers are needed to tackle gender-sensitive matters, like complaints relating to domestic violence, rape and abuses of minors.

Likewise, she said policewomen with further training in forensics, psychology and community relations can serve the PNP well, thus the need to provide them with skills improvement avenues.

Loren noted that female police officers are no longer confined to postings in women's desks, but are taking more active roles in law enforcement.

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