For legal research purposes, it will be noted that there are at least 32 “policing agencies” of the Republic of the Philippines, according to the 2005 diagnostic paper funded by the Judicial Reform Program of the Philippine Supreme Court, entitled “Transforming the Philippine National Police (PNP),,,”, namely:
- Philippine National Police (R.A. No. 6975);
- National Bureau of Investigation (R.A. No. 157);
- Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (R.A. No. 9165);
- Civil Relations Service, Armed Forces of the
5. Philippine Coast Guard, Department of Transportation and Communication;
- Airport Police Department, Manila International Airport Authority (as part of the National Law Enforcement Coordinating Council);
7. Metro
8. Bureau of Customs, Department of Finance;
9. Bureau of Immigration, Department of Justice (E.O. No. 292);
10. Bureau of Internal Revenue, Department of Finance (Sec. 2, National Internal Revenue Code of 1997);
11. Land Transportation Office, Department of Transportation and Communication;
12. Philippine Ports Authority (P.D. No. 857, as amended);
13. Philippine Center on Transnational Crimes (E.O. No. 62 [1999]);
14. Optical Media Board (R.A. No. 9236);
15. Chief Executives, Local Barangays (Sec. 389, Ch. 3, Local Government Code of 1991);
16. Sangguniang Barangay Members (Sec. 392, Ch. 4, Local Government Code of 1991);
17. Municipal/City Mayor (Sec. 444, Ch. 3, and Sec. 456, Ch. 3, Local Government Code of 1991);
18. Provincial Governor (Sec. 465, Ch. 3, Local Government Code of 1991);
19. National Anti-Kidnapping Task Force (NAKTAF);
20. Presidential Anti Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) and Task Force (PAOC-TF) [E.O. No. 8, [1998]);
21. National Anti Crime Commission (E.O. No. 23);
22. Inter Agency Council Against Trafficking (IAC-AT) [R.A. No. 9208);
23. Joint Task Force Against Trafficking in Persons (JTF-ATP) [R.A. No. 9208];
24. Presidential Anti Illegal Recruiters Task Force (PAIRTF) [E.O. No. 325 (2004)];
25. Presidential Anti Smuggling Task Force (PASTF) [E.O. No. 45(b) (1991)];
- National Council for Civil Aviation Security (NCCAS) [E.O. NO. 336 (2001)];
27. Presidential Task Force on Transportation Strikes and/or Mass Actions (PTF-TSMA) [E.O. No. 243 (2000)];
28.
29. Inter Agency Council on Anti Violence Against Women and Their Children (R.A. No. 9262 [2004]);
30. National Drug Law Enforcement and Prevention Coordinating Center (NDLEPCC) [E.O. No. 61 (1999)];
31. National Anti Crime Commission (NACC) [E.O. No. 23];
32. GAB Illegal Gambling Unit of the Games and Amusement Board [Presidential Administrative Order No. 262 (199_)].
Some of these policing agencies duplicate each other’s functions, i.e., superfluous and redundant, or are more impressive in name rather than in substance or accomplishments.
R.A. No. 6975 provides that the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) shall have control and supervision over the National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM), Philippine National Police (PNP), Bureau of Fire Protection, and Bureau of Jail Management and Penology.
The DILG Secretary acts as the Chairman and Presiding Office of the NAPOLCOM.
The NAPOLCOM exercises administrative control and operational supervision over the PNP, including the power to issue subpoenas in matters pertaining to the discharge of its powers and duties and the power to monitor and investigate police anomalies and irregularities.
The Inspection, Monitoring and Investigation Service of the NAPOLCOM conducts continuous inspection and management audit of personnel, facilities and operation at all levels of command of the PNP, monitor the implementation of the Commission’s programs and project relative to law enforcement, and monitor and investigate police anomalies and irregularities.
The Internal Affairs Service (IAS) of the PNP investigates complaints and gather evidence in support of an open investigation; conduct summary hearings on PNP members facing administrative charges; file appropriate criminal cases against PNP members before the courts as evidence warrants and assists in the prosecution of the case; and provide assistance to the Office of the Ombudsman in cases involving the personnel of the PNP.
Atty. Manuel J. Laserna Jr.
LCM Law, Las
March 18, 2008
