Republic of the Philippines

Commission on Higher Education

National Capital Region
LACSON COLLEGE
Pasay City, Metro Manila
__________________________________________________________________________________________________

POLICE PATROL OPERATIONS WITH POLICE COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS

LESSON 2

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

At the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

 Discuss the evolution of policing in the Philippines especially in the Manila District.

Introduction

The Origins of Police Patrol in the Philippines

Pre-historic and Colonial Philippines

The beginnings of Philippine police structure can be traced back to pre-colonial times. Soldiers of lakans, datus,
and rajahs reported directly to these leaders of communities. They were the enforcers of the law of the community. Any
individual has this instinct to protect lives, properties, and even interests. Thus this instinctive protection has always been
embedded in the fabric of the way of life even among the early Filipino tribes. Each tribe however had distinct policies on
protecting the interest of the members. This might also came into conflict with the interest of other tribes. These tribes
were not united, having of course different leaders and varied policies and implementation. This too might hve been the
weakness exploited by the coming of the Spanish colonialists.

When the Spanish came to colonize the country, the Guardia Civil en las Filipinas or Civil Guard in the Philippines
was tasked in maintaining peace and order in the country. The Civil Guard was a direct component of the Spanish Army
occupying the country. The organization began with a size of one division or around 1,200 men. The Guardia Civil in the
Philippines had a size of three divisions or more than 3,600 men. Two were stationed in Luzon and the third in the Visayas.
The Guardia Civil in the Philippines followed closely the organization of the metropolitan institution. Officers were drawn
from the regular Spanish army. Under normal conditions, they formed patrols consisting of two men. Larger detachments
were organized for operations such the suppression of bandit groups. The Guardia Civil had the power to impose penalties
for infringements of law and local ordinances. They could arrest people upon suspicion alone, and the Spanish colonial
government did not bar the Guardia Civil from using torture techniques in interrogation processes. They could also kill
suspects without trial if resistance was offered. Other forms of police system introduced by the Spanish are Guardrilleros,
Carabineros, Seguridad Publica.

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 Republic of the Philippines
Commission on Higher Education
National Capital Region
LACSON COLLEGE
Pasay City, Metro Manila
__________________________________________________________________________________________________

The American Occupation

Each colonist had their own version of policing system. And so during the American occupation, the first police
department was created on January 9, 1901 with Col. Mathew Harmon at its head His department was in charge of the
peace and order. The Philippine Constabulary (insular police) was introduced by virtue of act. No. 175 of July 1901. Its task
was to serve as territorial force. At the same time, what is now the Manila Police District came into existence as the
Philippines' first city police force. Later police forces began to model the US departments.

The Philippine Constabulary

The gendarmerie force was later integrated into the ranks of the Armed Forces of the Philippines in the late 1930s
– first as a command of the Army, and later on its own after the State Police folded.

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Commission on Higher Education
Pasay City, Metro Manila
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
Below are some laws governing the
organization and development of the
police system under the American
Occupation
1. ACT 183 of the Philippine
Commission – An act incorporating
the city of Manila (July 31, 1901).
2. Act No 175 of the Philippine
Commission – An act providing for
the organization and government
of the Insular Constabulary (July
18, 1901)
3. The Insular Constabulary was
renamed as the Philippine
Constabulary in December 1902.
The Japanese Regime
The Japanese also, during their
invasion on December 8, 1941, introduced
their own police system called
“KEMPETAI”. The Philippine Constabulary's
personnel would later find themselves
fighting on both sides in the Second World
War until the Americans overthrows them
on February 7, 1945 by the battle of Manila
Bay. That was the beginning of the
reconstruction of the police department
headed by Col. Marcus Ellis Jones.
Filipino soldiers, informants,
police and constabulary units faced
punishment under the accusation of
treason.
Following the restoration of
independence in 1946, the Philippine
Constabulary, reorganized as the military
gendarmerie of the Armed Forces in 1950,
proved to be a valuable asset of the
Republic of the Philippines
National Capital Region
LACSON COLLEGE
The Fighting Filipinos: Give me ten thousand Filipinos and I shall conquer the world –
MacArthur
Did the Japanese really conquer the Philippines? Well, they certainly beat the American and
Philippine professional forces and toppled the government. But by the time General Douglas
MacArthur landed American troops to retake the Philippines from the Japanese in October
1944, the Japanese Imperial forces only controlled 12 of the 48 provinces in the archipelago.
After the surrender of the Philippines to the Japanese in May, 1942, a vast array of guerrilla
forces sprang up to fight the occupiers. U.S. and Filipino officers and soldiers, local leaders
and citizens across the major islands, North to South, lead groups ranging from just a hundred
or so to thousands of resistance fighters. MacArthur was in awe of their success and the
tactics learned from the fierce native fighters of the Philippines have influenced the U.S.
military to this day.
One skill these guerrilla groups had was in developing underground networks. They organized
local intelligence gathering, secret radio transmitters, and had informants in the Second
Philippine Republic (the Japanese-backed puppet government).
“Give me ten thousand Filipinos and I shall conquer the world!” said MacArthur (source:
wikipedia.org), so taken was he by the resilience and strength of the native guerrilla forces
against the Japanese. The U.S. officially recognized 277 guerrilla units and 260,715 individual
fighters, mostly those associated with the Philippine Commonwealth. In reality, there were
probably well over one million guerrillas resisting the Japanese. Many groups would fight for
decades after the war to gain recognition from the U.S. and the veteran’s benefits that came
with it.
American officers who led guerrilla forces in the
Philippines used what they learned from Filipino fighters
in the formation of the U.S. Special Forces, in the post-
war period.
By Colin Fraser for War History Online
American propaganda poster of a Filipino guerrilla
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 Republic of the Philippines
Commission on Higher Education
National Capital Region
LACSON COLLEGE
Pasay City, Metro Manila
__________________________________________________________________________________________________

national government not just in national defense but also in contributing to the preservation of public security against
internal aggression and criminal activity.

The Police in an Independent Philippines

Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo, the first president of the Philippines supported the Philippine Constabulary as the leading
department that upholds the peace and order in the country with Col. Lamberto Javalera as its chief of police.

The problem was there were no specific laws that will guide in the administration of the increasing number of
police. Hence, sec. 2275, Book III, Title IX of the Revised Administrative Code of the Philippines approved March 20, 1917
introduced the creation of policemen in any city or municipality through the approval of the governor for the following
grounds; if the town is infested by outlaws, lawbreakers, and suspicious looking personalities. But the nature of service is
voluntary. There is no proper compensation being awarded. For that nature, the Philippine Congress passed RA 541, which
seeks to improve the police service and administration. The law was called the police Pension Law.

RA 541 was later found to be defective, which then persuaded the congress to push on a more comprehensive
law with an end in view of professionalizing the police service. Hence, RA 4864 better known as police act of 1966 was
passed and approved by the congress on Sept. 8, 1966.

 Enacted by congress to provide the foundation for the much

needed police reforms in the country

 Created the office of the Police Commission (POLCOM) under the

office of the president to achieve and attain a higher degree of
efficiency in the organization, administration, and operation of
local police agencies, and to place the local police service on a
professional level.

 The Commission was reorganized in 1972 as the National Police

Commission (NAPOLCOM) under the Office of the President.

RA 4865 took a hiatus on Sept. 21, 1972. Proclamation number 1081

was declared which places the whole country under the military rule. Military
officers from the Philippine Constabulary were designated as officers in charge
of their respective police department. They took control of the supervision,
administration, and operation thereof.

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 Republic of the Philippines
Commission on Higher Education
National Capital Region
LACSON COLLEGE
Pasay City, Metro Manila
__________________________________________________________________________________________________

From there on several presidential decrees were issued with the purpose of regulating the police service, to cite
some of the pertinent decrees as follows:

1. PD 421 – modifies and repeals some pertinent provisions and introducing the provision of the city chapter of
Manila, Quezon City, Caloocan and Pasay, as well as all existing laws, rules and regulations governing the police
force in the country.

2. PD 482 – was also promulgated purposely to bolster the entire police agency in the country. It specifically
gives the Philippine Constabulary the power to have direct control, direction, and supervision over the
provincial integrated police force.

3. PD 765 – otherwise known as the Police Integration Law (August 8, 1975)

 The NAPOLCOM was transferred to the ministry of National Defense in 1975

 Established the Integrated National Police (INP), with the Philippine Constabulary (PC) as the
nucleus.

4. PD 1184 – otherwise known as police Professionalization Law of 1977, which gives birth to the PNPA.

5. EO 1040 – transferred the administrative control and supervision of the INP from the Ministry of National
Defense (MND) to NAPOLCOM.

 Transferred the administrative control and supervision of the NAPOLCOM from the Ministry of
National Defense back to the Office of the President

6. EO 1012 – Providing measures to improve the administrative and operational framework for maintaining
peace and order at the provincial, city, and municipal levels (March 22, 1985).

 Amending executive order no 1012

 Transferred the operational supervision and direction over all INP units to the city and municipal
government

7. RA 6975 – An act establishing the Philippine National Police under a recognized Department of Interior and
Local Government, otherwise known as DILG Act of 1990 (December 13, 1990)
 After the People Power Revolution in 1986 (EDSA I), a new constitution was promulgated
providing for a police force, which is “national in scope and civilian in character”
 Mandated the abolition of PC/INP and the creation of the Philippine National Police (PNP) with
the members of the PC/INP as its nucleus and the absorption of selected members from the
major service units of the Armed Forces of the Philippines like the Philippine Air Force Security
Command (PAFSECOM), the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Philippine Navy (PN), and the
Philippine Army (PA), to be the national police force.

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 Republic of the Philippines
Commission on Higher Education
National Capital Region
LACSON COLLEGE
Pasay City, Metro Manila
__________________________________________________________________________________________________

8. RA 8551 – An act providing for the reform and the reorganization of the Philippine National Police and for
other purposes, amending certain provisions of Republic Act No. 6975, otherwise known as the PNP Reform
and Reorganization Act of 1998 (February 25, 1998)
 Enacted to further strengthen the PNP to become a highly efficient and competent police force that
is community service-oriented and accountable in the performance of its functions
 Allowed the reorganization of the PNP to effectively perform its mandate to enforce the law, prevent
and control crimes, maintain peace and order, and ensure public safety and internal security with the
active support of the community.
 Expanded NAPOLCOM’s authority over the PNP to include administration of police entrance
examination, conduct of pre-charge investigation against police anomalies and irregularities and
summary dismissal of erring police members.

The Manila Police District

The Manila Police District (MPD) is the agency of the PNP responsible for law enforcement in the city of Manila.
The history of the MPD can be traced back to Act No. 70 of the Taft Commission, which created the Metropolitan Police
Force of Manila on January 9, 1901 during the American colonization period in the Philippines. It was first stationed at the
Goldenberg Mansion in General Solano Street, San Miguel, Manila. The first Manila police chief was Gen. Arthur
MacArthur, Jr. (father of Gen. Douglas MacArthur).

On July 31, 1901, the force evolved into the Manila Police District thru the enactment of Act No. 183, which
established the Manila city charter. The reorganized police department was headed by Capt. George Curry, a military
officer by trade. He was succeeded by another military officer, Capt. J.E. Harvin. During this time, most of the policemen
in Manila were American soldiers.

With the advent of the Commonwealth Government in 1935, the American members of the police force were
withdrawn. The MPD became an all-Filipino organization with the appointment of Col. Antonio C. Torres as the first Filipino
chief of police on March 2, 1936. The year 1935 also saw the transfer of the headquarters to the New Manila City Hall
located at Arroceros Street, Ermita, Manila.

In 1949, the MPD again transferred their headquarters at the corner of San Marcelino and Isaac Peral (now United
Nation’s Avenue), Ermita, Manila, where it stands today.

During the Martial Law years, MPD underwent another transformation with its integration into the Integrated
National Police (INP) in 1978. With the restoration of democratic rule in the country in 1986, the MPD evolved into the
Western Police District Command by virtue of the provisions of Republic Act No. 6975, which paved the way for the
creation of Department of the Interior and Local Government in 1991. On July 20, 2005, Western Police District (WPD)
reverted to their former name, Manila Police District.

Among the notable chiefs of police of Manila is Alfredo Lim who later became the Director of the National Bureau
of Investigation, mayor of Manila, Senator, and Secretary of the DILG. Other notable chiefs of police are Hermogenes
Ebdane and Avelino Razon who were later appointed chiefs of the PNP.