Manila, Jan. 29 -- Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil on Wednesday said he is pushing for the police force to be more "civilian-centric."

In a statement, Marbil proposed amending Republic Act 6975, or the Department of the Interior and Local Government Act of 1990, to transform the PNP into a "modern, civilian-centric police force."

"The PNP needs to adopt a flatter structure instead of a hierarchical one," Marbil said. "A flatter organization will allow quicker decision-making and ensure firmer accountability."

He said the PNP's current structure was designed for a militarized force but its civilian mandate requires a fundamentally different approach.

A flatter structure, Marbil said, would "enhance l...