Chapter III.

Brief History of the PNP

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 CHAPTER III. Brief History of the PNP

The Barangay Period

Humble Beginning
Prior to Spanish colonization, the Philippines was divided into political units
called the Barangay. Each Barangay was headed or ruled by a Datu whose
responsibility, aside from exercising all the executive, legislative, and judicial powers,
he was also tasked to maintain peace and order within his jurisdiction. The Datu
designated from among his warriors a chief warrior who, together with some
subordinates, was charged with the duty to enforce the decrees, customs, traditions,
practices, and usages. The chief warrior was then, in effect, the chief of police.

Spanish Regime
Police functions during the Spanish Regime consist mainly of the following:
(a) the suppression of brigandage by patrolling unpacified areas; (b) the detection of
local or petty uprisings by spying upon the work and movements of people; and (c)
the enforcement of tax collection including church revenues.
a. Carabineros de Seguridad Publica (1712)- Armed with carbines, this police body
was organized for the purpose of carrying out the regulations of the department of
State. It became police-like when reorganized and named Cuerpo de Seguridad
Publica (Corps of Carabineros for Public Security). Its specific duties were watching
and guarding the custom houses, rivers, seacoasts, tobacco warehouses and preventing
the entry of contraband. It developed into a more special kind of police for land and
sea.
b. The Cuadrilleros (1836). It was the body of police organized in each town during
Spanish Regime. The Royal Decree which established it provided that five percent of
able-bodied male inhabitants of each province were to be enlisted in this organization
for three years. the duties consisted of maintaining peace and order in the towns,
patrolling, guarding the tribunal and prison cells, and other odd duties in the town. All
the organizations from each town were formed into company. The cuadrilleros
were administered like a

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military unit, having officersguik of different ranks and enlisted men of different
grades.
c. The Guardia Civil (1852)- This police institution was created to partially relieve
the colonial army troops of their work in policing the towns. But since those duties
were not wholly police in nature, they did not advance the development of police
force. On the contrary, being a part of the armystrengthened the old doctrine of
military control in civil affairs. It was very military in organization and control in the
same way that the Philippine Constabulary was built and administered.
As a national police body, the Guardia Civil was instrumental in checking
highway robbery to certain extent. Its utility, however, was impaired for it was
misused in apprehending political offenders, in detecting the enemies of the church,
and in framing up cases to compromise persons who were persona-non-grata to the
ruling power or to the henchmen of the church authorities. The Guardia Civil was
hated and feared by all; it was rightly feared by the outlaws and hated by the peaceful
citizens.

During the Japanese Occupation

Kempetai- Japanese Military Police, held responsible in maintaining peace and
order in Manila and adjacent areas until Gen. Douglas McArthur returned on Feb. 7,
1945.
American Occupation until World War II broke out.
The eventual capture of the elusive leader of the first Philippine Republic, General
Emilio Aguinaldo on March 23, 1901, an event which signaled the end of the
Filipino-American War, the restoration of peace and order in the Philippines remained
a vexing problem to the colonizing Americans.
A number of Aguinaldo's followers opted to carry out the struggle for independence.
Hostilities continued in some parts of the country, namely, Batangas, Mindoro, Cebu,
Bohol and Samar. Meanwhile, outlaws took advantage of the confusion and
intensified their depredations. Moreover, the social unrest created by five year of war
which begun in 1896 had bred several uprisings of other acts of violence.
Realizing the fact that military solution to the problem is unwired; the military
authorities opted to recommend to the Second Philippine Commission headed

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by William Taft to take over. In accordance with the instructions of the Secretary of
War Elihu Root, the Commission took over the government from the military on July
1901 with Taft as Civil Governor.
With the advent of civilian rule in the Philippines, a question arose as to who
should be responsible for maintaining law and order in the island. The existing local
police forces were too small to cope up with the growing problems. Vice Governor
Luke R. Wright, the concurrent Secretary of the Department of Commerce and police
for the U.S. Army in the Philippines, who objected to toss the problem to the military,
recommended to his fellow commissioners the immediate establishment of an
organization to be charged with the task of maintaining peace and order in the
localities already placed under civil rule. The proposal was welcomed by the
Philippine Commission and in one of its first sessions, passed Organic Act No. 175,
creating an insular police force. Entitled "An Act Providing for the organization and
government of an Insular Constabulary and for the inspection of the municipal
police", the legislation surprisingly called for an integrated approach and structure
which was to be adopted by the Philippine government 75 years later.

Philippine Commission Implements Organic Act 175

On August 8, 1901, with the sanction of the U.S. War Department, Henry T. Alien, a
graduate of the U.S. Military Academy, a regular captain but then a lieutenant colonel
of the cavalry, U.S. Volunteers in the Philippines officially designated and confirms
by the Commission as Chief of Constabulary. With his designation as Chief of
Philippine Constabulary was formally
inaugurated and on some day buckled down to work.
Alien issued General Order No 1 appointing some 68 hand-picked officers, mostly
from the U.S. Volunteers in accordance with Act No 175 with rank of first, second,
third, fourth class inspectors, Constabulary ranks that were later to be replaced by
military titles.
But while these hand-picked officers had the necessary military preparations,
they did not have any training and experience and police work. Worse, they had very
little knowledge of the Filipino and his society. Hence, these officers were given
crash course to properly acquaint them with the

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laws and traditions of the country and the customs of the people. After their training,
they were broken up into groups of four or five, composed of a captain and three or
four lieutenants and were sent to the different parts of the country to recruit, organize
and train the Filipino entities ill police duty.
Decentralization of Control
The problem of effectively controlling a vast area from one central
headquarters decided to decentralize the same. So, on October 14, 1901, the PC Chief
issued General Order No 49 grouping the pacified provinces into three (3)
Constabulary districts.
The first district included the provinces of Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija,
Pampanga, Pangasinan, Tarlac and City of Manila where the district headquarters was
located. And Chief Baker was assigned as district inspector. The second district was
composed of the provinces of Albay, Ambos, Camarines (now Cam Norte and Cam
Sur) Cavite, Masbate, Sorsogon and Tayabas (now Quezon), which then included the
island of Marinduque and placed under Maj Taylor, the district headquarters of which
was set in Lucena, Tayabas. The third district comprised by the provinces of Antique,
Bohol, Capiz, Iloilo, Leyte, Misamis (Mis Occ and Mis Or), Negros Occidental,
Negros Oriental, Samar and Surigao. This district was under Capt. Goldsborough
with headquarters in Iloilo.
One day after, Chief Alien published Gen. Order No 49, Gov. Taft sent a
report to War Secretary Root and spoke on the PC set up, saying "The general
scheme is to create an insular police force of not more than one hundred and fifty men
foreach province selected from the native thereof, who may be mounted in whole or
in part and who are placed under the immediate command of one or more, not
exceeding four provincial inspectors. While whole body is placed under the control of
a Chief and four assistant Chiefs of Constabulary. This scheme was not followed
because while full powers are given to properly arm, equip, maintain and discipline
force", the enlistees were ill-armed, ill-equipped and ill-maintained.

Police Integration
The places affected by police integration were in the outskirts of Manila, like
Caloocan and Pasay which became the favorite refuge of rebels,

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and criminals from Manila, due to the limited area of operation of the integration
police system it could operate only in pacified areas.Later in 1904, the PC Chief was
redesignated as Director of Constabulary and the routine police duty, in these areas
were entrusted to the PC. With the total lifting of martial rule in Luzon and the
Visayas and the assignment to the PC of routine police work in Mindanao and Sulu,
the need for the cremation of additional Constabulary districts arose.
Hence on June 13,1904, the PC Chief created through General Order No 73,
two new districts. The fourth districts which comprised of the provinces of Abra,
Cagayan, Isabela, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Mountain Province and Nueva
Vizcaya with headquarters in San Fernando, La Union (later transferred to Baguio
City), while the fifth district with headquarters in Zamboanga, embraced all the
provinces of Mindanao and Sulu.

Filipinianization of the Constabulary

This gradual Filipinianization of the Constabulary officer corps proved to be
a sound move for World War 1 was soon to break out and to drag the United State
into it and many of the top Constabulary's American officers joined the U.S.
Expeditionary Forces to France. This development gave the opportunity for the
Filipinos to run the Constabulary themselves. The first to be given the chance was
Brig General Rafael Crame, appointed PC Chief in December 1917. Thus, for the first
time in 16 years of existence, the Constabulary was placed under Filipino leadership.
With the assumption of Gen Crame, the Constabulary districts were renamed
and their respective districts redefined. The Fourth District came to be known as
District of Northern Luzon based in San Fernando, La Union; the First District was
renamed District of Central Luzon; the Second District was renamed District of
Southern Luzon; the Third District was renamed District of Visayas and the Fifth
District was renamed district of Mindanao based in Zamboanga.

The Constable under the Commonwealth Act

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The National Defense Act or Commonwealth Act No. 1 on December 1935, was
enacted creating the Philippine Army and this ended the 35 years of service and
experience of the Philippine Constabulary as an insular police force. The Philippine
Constabulary personnel and duties were transferred to the control of the Chief of
Staff of the Philippine Army pursuant to Executive Order No 11 dated January 11,
1936.
President Manuel L Quezon saw that there was an urgent need of an army to
cope tip with the worsening international conflicts. In his desire to complete this
defense program before the country's independence after its 10- year transition period
as commonwealth government, President Quezon asked General Mac Arthur to
under-take the country's defense build tip. Their combined efforts, however, became
almost useless for as General Mac Arthur put it, "war came in five years and
American aid came too late and too little".
During the organization of the Philippine Army, veteran Constabulary officers
were appointed to key positions in the Army. Brig Gen Jose delos Reyes headed the
Army as Acting Chief of Staff. Brig Gen Basilio Valdes immediate past PC Chief and
Col Guillermo Francisco were appointed assistant Chief of Staff.The insular police
duties of the defunct Philippine Constabulary were entrusted to the State Police
created by Commonwealth Act No.88 approved on October 26, 1936. All municipal
city police forces and provincial guard organization were consolidated and placed
under the control and supervision of the Department of Interior and were called
the State Police. This State Police was assigned the duty to properly preserve law and
order and vigilantly prevent the commission and perpetration of public offenses.

The Constabulary Reconstituted

Unable to cope up with the worsened peace and order situation faced by the
new government, the State Police was abolished in 1938 at the instance of President
Quezon himself. This approval of Commonwealth Act No 343 on June 25, 1938
reconstituted the Philippine Constabulary. This act, further implemented by
President Quezon's Executive Order No. 153,

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specifically withdraw the Philippine Constabulary from the Army as an independent
unit and detailed as a National Police Force.
Placed under the Department of Interior, the reactivated Constabulary was
empowered to prevent and suppress brigandage, unlawful assemblies, riots,
insurrections and other breaches of peace and violations of the law, to make arrests
and seizures according to law and to execute any lawful warrant or order of arrest
issued against any person for violation of law.Brig Gen Guillermo Francisco was
appointed Chief of Constabulary which he held until 1942. During the year after its
revitalization, the PC set up and strength were vastly improved. A striking force, the
General Service Battalion was organized at Camp Crame in Quezon City. As a
Combat Unit, the General Service troops were better trained and equipped than any
of the Provincial Constabulary commands and detachments.Due to the worsening
international unrest, the Constabulary's strength was increased from 7,500-15,000
men.
The First and Second PC Regiments were activated. Meanwhile, a third
regiment was organized and trained at Camp Keithley in Lanao in September, 1941.
These three (3) PC regiments were separately trained. After intensive training, Brig
Gen George Barker Jr inducted the First Regiment into the United States Forces in
the Far East (USAFFE) in October 15, 1941; the Second Regiment, in December 12,
1941.

The Constable during World War II

The Filipino nation wake up in the morning of December 8, 1941 to the grim
news of the Japanese surprise attack in Pearl Harbor. General Mac Arthur himself
stunned by the news, knew that the Archipelago was in the grave danger, under
immediate aid from the United States would arrive on time.
In simultaneous bombings, missions Japanese Naval Plane from Formosa
attack Clark Field in Pampanga, Iba Field in Zamboanga, John Flay Air Base in
Baguio City and Tuguegarao in December 8, 1941. Aircraft on the ground and
installations in this airfield were severely destroyed, reducing the
U.S. Air Force's strength to barely half.
On same day, the 2nd Battalion of the First PC Regiment was ordered to
Bataan immediately, while the Second PC Regiment and the remaining

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units of the First Regiment were ordered to remain in the Greater Manila Area to
round up all aliens believed to be sympathetic to the enemy. In addition, these units
were ordered to secure centers of communication, all public utilities, as well as the
metropolitan area against subversive elements.
By January 1942, most of the Constabulary Forces that composed the 2nd
Regular Division (USAFFE) were in Bataan Peninsula with other Fil- American
Forces. An order of the day said, "On Bataan and Corregidor, in Aparri, Lingayen and
Atimonan, everywhere in the islands where invaders dared to set foot, Constabulary
troops distinguished themselves in action against overwhelming odds".
The Constabulary's participation in the country's defense during World War 11
cannot be measured or told in exact detail. These deeds of valor during these days
and hours of war which forever lost to history. Suffice to say that the Filipino soldiers
stood his ground valiantly for love of liberty, our country and people.
The blazing chapters of heroism during the war year were not exclusively parts of the
Constabulary's epic story alone, although incidents involving the Constabulary
Division have been singled out in most cases.

The Constable Underground

Guerrilla units sprang tip in all parts of the country by the middle of 1942.
Reports of the existence of guerrilla in the Philippines reached Gen Mac Arthur in
Australia, first through a radio message relayed by Col Nakar, a guerrilla leader in
Central Luzon in June, and later on confirmed by first-hand reports of Capt William
Osborne, Damon Guase and Frank Young.

Gen Mac Arthur immediately reorganized these units and assigned officers of
his headquarters to work closely with these units. USAFFE headquarters in Australia
took steps to communicate with resistance units and centers in the Philippines.Before
the end of 1942, most guerrilla units and centers in the Philippines had already
established radio contacts with USAFFE headquarters in Australia. These
movements reported their own activities and operations, the enemy's movements and
condition of their respective areas.Of all the guerrilla centers, the
Mindanao guerrilla

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movements were the best organized to conduct operations. Like the Visayan
resistance movements, the Mindanao guerrillas were able to make early contacts with
Australia. Due to the island's proximity to Australia, the first assistance of supplies
and equipment from USAFFE headquarters arrived in Mindanao.

The Post War Constable

On October 28, 1944, President Sergio Osme 渃̀a issued all Executive Order
creating all insular police called Military Police Command, USAFFE pursuant to
USAFFE Gen Orders No 50 & 51 redesignated it as Military Police Command,
AFWESPAC. This idea was conceived to restore the bad image of the Constabulary
during the Japanese occupation when these constables were made to run after the
guerrillas.
However, after the years of existence, the Constabulary was revived on July 1,
1947. About 12, 000 officers and men were withdrawn from the Military Police
Command and transferred to the Department of Interior and constituted the National
Police Force designated as the Philippine Constabulary. All functions of the Military
Police Command except those military in character "were thereafter exercised and
assumed by the PC in connection with which Sections 832-840 & 848 of the Revised
Administrative Code were declared in full force and effect, pursuant to Executive
Order No. 94 dated October 4, 1947.

Proclamation 1081
The early seventies saw the rapid escalation of subversive activities of the
insurgents throughout the country. The New People's Army, the military arm of the
revitalized Communist Party of the Philippines was openly defying government troop
in the countryside. Countless subversive organizations had cropped up in almost
sectors of the populace. In Mindanao, a secessionist was beginning to gain ground
among the Muslims.
This situation precipitated various reforms and innovations with Philippine
Constabulary and program of activities. The special units and task force were called
upon to double their efforts and work more closely with government agencies and
civic groups in an attempt to stem the rising tide of

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chaos and anarchy throughout thecountry. Unfortunately, the Constabulary could not
move freely, its hands, as well as those of the military establishments were tied.
The Constabulary was in this virtual state of helplessness when the country
begun to be rocked rallies and demonstrations. Although President Marcos later
dismissed these happenings as the inevitable outcome of the modernizing process,
modernization being a disquieting, at times convulsive undertaking because it is fact
revolutionary, it was in truth, like all the violent rallies and demonstrations that
followed were pan of the communist plan to sow chaos and anarchy and thereby pave
the way for CPP takeover.
So, on September 21, 1972, the then President Ferdinand E Marcos
proclaimed Martial Law throughout the country by virtue of Proclamation 1081.
This law diagnosed the actual peace and order situation undertaken by these lawless
elements of the communist and other armed groups organized to out throw the
Republic of the Philippines by armed violence and force which assured the
magnitude of an actual state of war against our people and the Republic of the
Philippines.
In a month's time, peace and order was restored. Bombing suddenly stopped.
Rallies and demonstrations, and their attendant brutal violence ceased to be the order
of the day, NPA's and secessionists were forced to retreat to the jungles and lie low.
The private armies and the terror they used to spread disappeared. The citizen was
once again safe to walk the street and perform his daily chore. Justice and sanity once
more reigned.
The Commandant was also the Chief of the Integrated National Police (the
municipal police force for the larger towns and cities). The PC was organized on
similar lines to the army, and consisted of a General Staff located at its General
Headquarters at Camp Crame, Manila, and 12 Regional Commands consisting of 104
Provincial Commands; these controlled the 450 Constabulary companies which
performed all the day-to-day police work.
The Regions were based on the country's political regions and directly
controlled the various Highway Patrol, Rangers and investigative groups.PC
headquarters directly controlled many other services needed at a national level such
as the Special Action Group, Central Crime Laboratory, White Collar Crime Group,
and Office of Special Investigations (which was a counter

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intelligence group).The Philippine Constabulary Rangers, or PC Rangers, were
independent light infantry companies which served as a counter- insurgency force
similar to United States Army Rangers and were organized into 12 large regional
companies.

The Constabulary also maintained the following units:

 Constabulary Boat Service to patrol the extensive waters of the Philippines,
 Crime and Forensic labs, and
 National Constabulary Investigations Service which acted in a similar way to the
FBI (the National Bureau of Investigation was formed later).

The Integrated National Police

Police integration is not at all a new concept, here or elsewhere. In the Philippines, the
idea is old as the Constabulary itself although it was not well defined when it first
dawned.Nevertheless, the germ was there when in mandating the setting up of an
insular police force, the Second Philippine Commission, though Organic Act No. 175
enacted on July 18, 1901 called for the organization and establishment of an Insular
Constabulary and for the inspection of the municipal police.So after almost three
years of martial rule, the integration of all police forces throughout the country with
the PC followed. The ideas and the theories that have been developed and
implemented during 75 years of the PC finally came into practical consolidation
when former President Marcos issued Presidential Decree 765 on August 8, 1975
integrating the local police and the PC. The reluctant organization became known as
the PC-INP (Integrated National Police).

Creation of the Philippine National Police

Law enforcement is vital in the stability and progress of all nations. Thus, the
conception of a unified national police was borne out of this premise.
Giving rise to the unification of the Philippine Constabulary and the Integrated
National Police whose functions is symmetrical to ensure the safety and security of
the people. Republic Act 6975 was signed into law on December 13, 1990 by then
President Corazon C Aquino which called for the creation of

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the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the reorganization of the Department of the
Interior and Local Government (DILG) in keeping with the mandate of our
constitution for a police force that is national in scope and civilian in character.
In response to the call for public safety and reforms within the organization,
Honorables Teodulo C Natividad, Blas F Ople, Regalado E Maambong and Rustico
delos Reyes authored the provisions in the 1987 constitution calling for the creation of
a police organization that is national in scope and civilian in character thus paving
way to the establishment of the Philippine National Police (PNP).
The principal authors of the Republic Act 6975 were Senators Ernesto N
Maceda and Aquilino Pimentel, Congressmen Jose S Cojuangco Jr and Rodrigo
Gutang. They moved for the PNP's creation to professionalize the police force and
make it susceptible to the plight of the general public.
Upon the effectivity of the law, after its signing into law on 13 December 1990, the
PNP underwent a transitory period and on 31 March 1991, President Corazon C
Aquino named General Cesar P Nazareno as the First Director General of the
Philippine National Police.
On 29 January 1991, at Camp Crame, Quezon City, the Philippine Constabulary and
the Integrated National Police were retired and the PNP was activated in its place.
The occasion drew mixed reactions among its peers, one ofregret and another of hope
that this newly established police organization will finally be the answer we have
been looking for. President Corazon C Aquino appealed to the Filipino people to keep
an open mind and cooperate to make this work for a better nation. As she addressed
the new PNP leadership, she ordered them to view the event as an opportunity for
better service and a chance for professional growth.
The activation of the Philippine National Police (PNP) did not affect the
organizational set-up and staffing pattern of the force. At the HPNP, the Director
General has ten (10) Directorial Staff namely: 1. Directorate for Personnel 2.
Directorate for Human Resource and Doctrine Development 3. Directorate for
Logistics, 4. Directorate for Research and Development 5. Directorate for
Comptrollership, 6. Directorate for Plans, 7. Directorate for Police-Community
Relations, 9. Directorate for Investigation and 10. Special

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Staff under him. In addition, there exist administrative support units, namely:
Logistics Support Service (LSS), Computer Service, Finance Service, Dental and
Medical Service, Communication and Electronic Service, Chaplain Service, Legal
Service and Headquarters Support Service; and the Operational Support Units,
namely: Maritime Group, Crime Laboratory, Intelligence Group, Police Security
Group, Criminal Investigation Group, Narcotics Group, Special Action Force, Traffic
Management Group, Police- Community Relations Group, Aviation Security Group
and Civil Security Group. At the different regions, the 15 Regional Office were
maintained and retained their original structural forces. The fifteen(15) REGIONAL
OFFICES and their locations are as follows: REGIONAL OFFICE I - Camp Gen
Oscar Florendo, Parian San Fernando, La Union; REGIONAL OFFICE 2 - Camp
Adduru, Tuguegarao, Cagayan; REGIONAL OFFICE 3 - Camp Olivas, San
Fernando, Pampanga; REGIONAL OFFICE 4 - Camp Vicente Lim Canlubang,
Laguna; REGIONAL OFFICE 5 - Camp Simeon A Ola, Legazpi City; REGIONAL
OFFICE 6 - Camp Martin Delgado, Iloilo City; REGIONAL OFFICE 7 - Camp
Sergio Osmena Sr., Cebu City; REGIONAL OFFICE 8 - Camp Ruperto K Kangleon,
Palo, Leyte; REGIONAL OFFICE 9 - Camp Justice R.. T. Lim Blvd, Zamboanga
City; REGIONAL OFFICE 10 - Camp Alagar, Cagayan de Oro City; REGIONAL
OFFICE 11 - Camp Catitipan, Maguindanao, REGIONAL OFFICE 12 - Camp
Parang, Maguindanao; ARMM
- Camp Salipada Pendatun, Parang, Maguindanao; PROCAR OFFICE - Camp Bado
Dangwa, La Trinidad, Benguet; and the NCR- Camp General Tomas Karingal,
Sikatuna Village, Quezon City. Some regional offices were relocated to their
respective regions.

The National Capital Region which covers Metro Manila is divided into five
(5) Districts each headed by a District Director: The five (5) Districts are as follows
Western Police District (WPD)- Manila; Eastern Police District (EPD); Northern
Police District (NPD); Central Police District (CPD); Quezon City; and Southern
Police District (SPD).
On August 1992, due to the adverse publicities about erring policemen in the service,
the newly elected President Fidel V Ramos sought measures to restore the people's
faith by revamping the Philippine National Police (PNP).

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 To prove his sincerity in cleansing the police force, General Nazareno was
relieved and transferredto the President's office. To replace him in acting capacity was
Deputy Director General Raul S Imperial. This was on 28 August 1992.Deputy
Director General Raul S lmperial together with Secretary Rafael M Alunan III of the
Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) was given the difficult task
to dialogue with the private sector and its personnel in line with improving the image
of the men in uniform.
To complement these dialogues, the present leadership of the Philippine
National Police (PNP) suggested the reorientation of its men on value formation.
Seminars were conducted to this effect. To make the reorientation more effective, the
PNP vision was created which goes, "We are committed to the vision of professional,
dynamic and highly motivated PNP, supported by a responsive community, regarded
as one of the most credible national institutions and ranked among the best in Asia".
With this vision, Deputy Director General Raul S Imperial challenged all PNP
personnel to bring this vision into a reality.
On 28 October 1992, after the retirement of General Cesar P Nazareno,
General Raul S Imperial became the second PNP Chief. This thought was short lived
because he retired on 06 May 1993.After a thorough revamp in the PNP, President
Fidel V Ramos appointed General Umberto Rodriguez as the third PNP Chief on 06
May 1993. He was given the arduous task of upgrading the tainted image of the PNP
and uplifting the morale and welfare of every police officer in the service. Gifted with
talent, Director General Umberto Rodriguez masterly guided the organization to what
is has become today; all organization fully committed with sense of dignity, loyalty
and total dedication ill serving the citizenry of the Republic. He retired on 08 July
1994.
On 08 July 1994, a very young officer was chosen by President Fidel V
Ramos to lead the PNP. A member of class '66 of the Philippine Military Academy
(PMA), Director General Recaredo Arevalo Sarmiento II vowed to continue what his
past predecessors have initiated and urged the members of the Philippine National
Police to help the government to fulfill its goal towards the Philippine 2000.

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Under Director General Sarmiento's stewardship, the organization, as it is done
centered its attention in helping the country to move forward economically by
maintaining peace and order, assisting the government in times of calamities and
combating violence and lawlessness. He imbibed to the minds of the entire PNP
personnel of their commitment to the entire populace through the POLICE 2000. It
may not be a perfect organization but it is forever cleansing its ranks-to rid of the very
few misfits who have tarnished its image. The PNP is currently intensifying its
operations on "OPLAN PAGLALANSAG" in answer to the President's call to
dismantle all existing private armed groups throughout the archipelago and "OPLAN
PAGBABAGO" as the organization's way of religiously cleansing its force of
misguided elements. Indeed, our police force have a great task ahead of them but with
the people behind it, how can it fail.

The Philippine National Police

The passage into law on December 13, 1990 of Republic Act No. 6975
entitled “An Act Establishing the Philippine National Police under a reorganized
Department of the Interior and Local Government and Other Purposes”, ended the
existence of the Philippine Constabulary and the Integrated National Police and gave
way to the creation of the Philippine National Police, now known as the country's
police force that is national in scope and civilian in character. It is administered and
controlled by the National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM).
With the affectivity of Republic Act No. 8551, otherwise known as the
Philippine National Police Reform and Reorganization Act of 1998, the PNP was
envisioned to be a community and service oriented Agency. As mandated by law, the
PNP activated/created the Internal Affairs Service (IAS) on a national scope on June
1, 1999. It is an organization within the structure of the PNP and one of its tasks is to
help the Chief, PNP institute reforms to improve the image of the police force through
assessment, analysis and evaluation of the character and behavior of the PNP
Personnel. It is headed by the Inspector General.

PNP Vision

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 The Men and Women of the PNP is committed to a vision of a professional,
dynamic and highly motivated Philippine National Police working in partnership with
a responsive community towards the attainment of a safe place to live, work, invest
and do business with.
PNP Mission
To enforce the law, to prevent and control crimes, to maintain peace and order, and to
ensure public safety and internal security with the active support of the community.
PNP Motto
We serve and protect
PNP Core Values Service Honor Justice Police
Officers Pledge
I will love and serve GOD, my country and people;
I will uphold the Constitution and obey legal orders of the duly constituted authorities;
I will oblige myself to maintain a high standard of morality and professionalism; I
will respect the customs and traditions of the police service and
I will live a decent and virtuous life to serve as an example to others.

PNP Constitutional Basis

Section 4, Article 2 of the 1987 Constitution provides that, it is the policy of the State
to promote peace and order, ensure public safety and further strengthen local
government capability aimed towards the effective delivery of basic services for the
citizenry through the establishment of a highly and competent police force that is
national in scope and civilian in character.
Section 23, Chapter III, of Republic Act No. 6975, An Act Establishing the Philippine
National Police Under a Reorganized Department of the Interior and Local
Government, or otherwise known as, The PNP Law.
Republic Act No. 8551, An Act Providing for the Reform and Reorganization of the
Philippine National Police and for other Purposes, amending Certain Provisions of
RA No. 6975, or otherwise known as, The PNP Reform Act of 1998.

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PNP Functions
●  Enforce all laws and ordinance relative to the protection of lives and
properties;
●  Maintain peace and order and take all necessary steps to ensure public safety;
●  Investigate and prevent crimes, effect the arrest of criminal offenders, bring
offenders to justice and assist in their prosecution;
●  Exercise the general powers to make arrest, search and seizure in
accordance with the Constitution and pertinent laws;
●  Detain an arrested person for a period not beyond what is prescribed by law,
informing the person so detained of all his rights under the Constitution;
●  Issue licenses for the possession of firearms and explosives in
accordance with law;
●  Supervise and control the training and operations of security agencies and
issue licenses to operate security agencies, and to security guards and private
detectives for the practice of their professions; and
●  Perform such other duties and exercise all other functions as may be provided
by law.

Classification of the Powers and Functions of the PNP:

1. Statutory Power of the Police, such as:
1. To enforce the laws and ordinances relative to the protection of lives and
properties;
2. To maintain peace and order and take all the necessary steps to ensure public
safety;
3. To investigate and prevent crime, effect the arrest of criminal offenders, bring
offenders to justice and assist in their prosecution;
4. To detain an arrested person for a period not beyond what is prescribed by law,
informing the person so detained of all his rights under the constitution;
5. To exercise the general powers to make arrest, search and seizure and
pertinent laws.
2. Licensing, Supervisory and Control, and Training, such as:

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1. To issue licenses for the possession of firearms and explosives in accordance with
law; and
2. Supervise and control the training and operations of security agencies and issue
license to operate security agencies, and to security guards and private detectives for
the practice of their profession;
3. To train students taking up their baccalaureate, vocational or technical courses in
undergoing Law Enforcement Service Program in compliance of the National
Service Law.
3. Deputized Statutory Power of the Police, that is, to perform such other duties and
exercise all other functions as maybe provided by law:
1. To enforce election laws during the conduct of election;
2. To enforce laws involving agriculture, environment and natural resources;
3. To enforce laws involving land transportation;
4. Many other laws under the jurisdiction of various departments and/or offices of
the government where the PNP will be deputized under the principle of intra-
coordination between and among offices/departments of the governments.

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