Keywords:
criminologists
PNP enlistment
lived experience

  • Abstract

    Regardless of the professional qualifications, the challenges are recurrent for many applicants, which follows a systemic barrier. Although fulfilling formal requirements, these individuals are facing complexities in the form of stringent quota restrictions, high procedural delays, and opaque end decisions. This research paper will offer significant insights into the lived experiences of legitimate criminologists who were once denied the opportunity to join the PNP but ultimately gained entry. Based on a qualitative-transcendental phenomenological research design, the scholars conducted unstructured interviews with seven initially failing, then gaining, enlistment participants. Thematic coding was employed to analyze the data, and ethical precautions, including obtaining informed consent, maintaining confidentiality, and ensuring participant validation, were strictly adhered to. The results also indicate that although it can be qualified, rejection leads to emotional distress, internalized self-doubt, and poor motivation. However, the subjects were resilient, as they demonstrated spiritual growth, family influence, and patient perseverance. They were able to stay true to their aims through adaptive coping mechanisms (repeated application, physical and emotional preparation, and career recalibration). The emotional fallout reached even family members, who became grieved and disappointed alongside the aspirants. This research offers a deeper understanding of the process by which applicants perceive, endure, and overcome institutional barriers to advancing their careers and relationships. It also contributes to the emerging literature on law enforcement enlistment and emotional labor in entering a career of public service in the Philippine setting.

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How to cite

Rilveria, L. A., Dato-Benzon, J., & Tolio, W. R. (2026). Lifeworld of registered criminologists in PNP enlistment. Multidisciplinary Science Journal, 8(8), 2026491. https://doi.org/10.31893/multiscience.2026491
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