EVOLUTION OF POLICE

SERVICE
IN THE PHILIPPINES
Policing system during the
Spanish Regime
• The police force during the Spanish Regime was
considered as part of the military system by the
Spanish government.
• The locally organized police forces, although
performing civil duties and seemingly created for the
sole purpose of maintaining peace, were in fact
directly commanded by the colonial military
government.
Policing system during the
Spanish Regime
(Police Forces)
1. CARABINEROS de SEGURIDAD PUBLICO (Mounted Police)
was organized in 1712 for the purpose of carrying out the
policies of the Spanish government. The members were
armed and considered as the mounted police.
2. GUARDRILLEROS was a body of rural police organized in
each town that was created by the Royal Decree of January
8, 1836. This police force was composed of 5% of the able-
bodied male inhabitants of each town or province, and each
member should serve for at least 3 years.
3. GUARDIA CIVIL was the police organization created by the
Royal Decree issued by the Spanish Crown government on
February 12, 1852. It relieved the Spanish Peninsular Troops
of their works in policing towns.
POLICE SERVICE
IN THE PHILIPPINES
AMERICAN PERIOD
INSULAR CONSTABULARY
 Created on July 18, 1901 by virtue of ACT #
175 titled as “An Act Providing for the
Organization and Government of an Insular
Constabulary”.
 August 8, 1901, Act 175 was implemented
and HENRY T. ALLEN, regular Captain but
then a Lt. Col. Of the US Cavalry became its
first Chief.
 On October 3, 1901, the IC was changed to
PC by virtue of ACT # 255. Brig/Gen. Henry
T. Allen retained leadership from 1901 to
1907 such that he was called as the Father
of Constabulary in the Philippines.
 The PC was manned mostly by Filipinos but
officers were mostly Americans.
POLICE SERVICE
IN THE PHILIPPINES
FILIPINIAZATION OF P.C
 REVISED ADMINISTRATIVE CODE
OF 1917 was approved a year before
World War I ended. (US Troops
joined the US Expedition to France).
 In section 825 of this law, it stated
that the Philippine Constabulary is a
national police institution for
preserving the peacekeeping order
and enforcing the law.
 Brig./Gen. Rafael Crame became
the first Filipino Chief of Police. He
served as the PC Chief from 1917-
1927.
POLICE UNDER COMMONWEALTH
• CA No. 1 Dec. 1935 created PA and ended the 35 years service of PC
as an Insular Police Force. PC personnel were transferred to the
control of Chief of Staff of PA.
• CA No. 88 Oct. 26, 1936 created State Police. All municipal police and
provincial guards and that of the defunct PC were consolidated and
placed under Department of Interior.
PC Reconstituted
• Worsened peace and order, prompted
MLQ to abolished state police thru CA
No. 343 on June 25, 1938 and
reconstituted PC specifically withdrawing
it from the Army as independent unit and
detailed as a National Police Force.
POLICE DURING WWII
 PC actively participated in the defense of the country though their
efforts cannot be measured.
 PC Remnants went underground in the mids of 1942 that paved way
for the re-organization of USAFFE thru the effort of GEN MC ARTHUR.

Dec. 8, 1941, Japanesse

troops simultaneously
launched attack in
Pampanga, Zambales,
Zamboanga, Baguio City and
Tuguegarao.
1st PC Regiment was ordered
to bataan while the 2nd PC
Reg and remaining units
were ordered to guard GMA
esp communication areas
and public utilities.
Japanese Occupation

 The Japanese Military Police,

known as KEMPETAI were held
responsible in maintaining peace
and order in Manila and adjacent
urban areas.
 Kempetai ruled the urban areas
until Gen. Douglas McArthur
returned of February 7, 1945.
POST WAR POLICE
 Oct. 28. 1944. Pres. Osmena with USAFFE GO
50 and 51 re-designated all insular police as
Military Police Command.
 July 1, 1947, PC was revived and placed under
DI and constituted the National Police Force.
 On September 18, 1966, Republic Act Nr.
4864 otherwise known as POLICE ACT OF
1966 was enacted. The law created the office
of the POLICE COMMISSION (which was later
called National Police Commission) under the
Office of the President. Originally, the
POLCOM was created as a supervisory agency
to the PC. Their function was to oversee the
training and professionalization of the police
service gained official recognition.
PROCLAMATION 1081
• Sep 21 1972 FM proclaimed martial law
to thwart lawlessness and subversion.
• On August 8, 1975, PRESIDENTIAL
DECREE NR. 765 was enacted and
stipulated that the office of the
NAPOLCOM should be under the office
of the Ministry of National Defense. It
defined also the relationship between
the Integrated National Police and the
Philippine Constabulary. This was in
compliance with the provisions of
Section 12, Article 15 of the 1973
Philippine Constitution.
CREATION OF THE PNP
• CONGS. NATIVIDAD, OPLE, MAAMBONG AND
DELOS REYES authored the provisions in the
1987 Constitution calling for new police
organization.
• On Dec 13, 1990, R A 6975 was approved by
CCA.
• DILG Act of 1990 and also recognized later as
the PNP Law of 1991.
• Jan. 29 1991 PC and INP were retired and PNP
was activated.
• PNP was declared to be the only police force of
the country with national scope and civilian in
character.
• On February 25, 1998, Republic
Act Nr. 6975 provisions
concerning the PNP were
amended when President Fidel
Ramos approved Republic Act
Nr. 8551. Republic Act Nr.
8551, known as the PNP
Reform and Reorganization Act
of 1998, reorganized the PNP
for the purpose of reforming
and professionalizing it.
PNP ORGANIZATION AND ADMINISTRATION

• Sec 4 Art 2 of 1987 Constitution calls for the

establishment of a highly efficient and component
police force that is Civilian in Character and National
in Scope.
• RA 6975 as amended by RA 8551 and further
amended by RA 9708