Law Enforcement

The Law Enforcement as the first pillar which considered as the

INITIATOR or the PRIME MOVER of the Criminal Justice System
Examples of Police Initiating Actions
Effecting arrest
Surveillance
Crime Investigation
GENERAL PRINCIPLES of
POLICE OPERATIONS
Regardless of the type of function to be performed and/or
police operations to be conducted, all PNP personnel must
know by heart and shall comply with and apply the following
principles and procedures:
FUNCTIONS OF A POLICE OFFICER
To Serve and Protect
• The responsibility of every police offcer is to serve the public and
protect life and property. No police operation shall be conducted
in order to serve or protect the illegal activity of a particular
person, group or criminal syndicate.
To Observe Human Rights and Dignity of Person
• All PNP personnel shall respect the human rights and dignity of
the suspect/s during police operation
POLICE UNIFORM, ATTIRE
AND ACCESSORIES

Agency Prescribed Uniform

• A police officer shall always wear the agency prescribed uniform which is appropriate for the kind of police
operation to be undertaken.
Appearing Before the Public
• When wearing the police uniform, a police officer shall, at all times, appear presentable, smart and
well-groomed. While on actual patrol duties, he shall refrain from eating along the sidewalks, smoking and
reading newspapers
Carrying of Police Notebook, Pen and Miranda Warning Card
• Every police officer on patrol, whether on board a vehicle or on foot patrol, must always carry with him a
police notebook, a pen and the Miranda Warning Card. The notebook, which is approximately pocket-sized,
will be used to inscribe important events that transpire during his tour of duty.
CATEGORIES OF
POLICE OPERATIONS
Police operations are categorized as follows:
Public Safety Operation – includes Search, Rescue and Retrieval Operations,
Fire Drills, Earthquake Drills and similar operations that promote public safety.
Law Enforcement Operation – includes Service of Warrant of Arrest,
Implementation of Search Warrant, Enforcement of Visitorial Powers of the
Chief, Philippine National Police and Unit Commanders, Anti-Illegal Drugs
Operation, Anti-Illegal Gambling Operations, Anti-Illegal Logging Operations,
Anti-Illegal Fishing Operations, Anti-Carnapping Operations, Anti-Kidnapping
Operations, Anti-Cyber Crime Operations and similar operations that are
conducted to enforce laws, statutes, executive orders and ordinances.
CATEGORIES OF
POLICE OPERATIONS
Internal Security Operation – includes Counter-Insurgency Operations, Counter
Terrorist Operations and similar operations that are conducted to ensure internal
security
Special Police Operation – includes Checkpoint Operation, Roadblock Operation,
Civil Disturbance Management Operation, Police Assistance in the Enforcement of
Demolition Eviction Injunction and Similar Orders, Police Assistance in the
Implementation of Final Court Order and Order from Quasi-Judicial Bodies, Hostage
Situation, Visit Board Search and Seizure Onboard Marine Vessels and similar police
operations that are conducted by police units with specialized training on the
peculiarity of the mission or purpose.
CATEGORIES OF
POLICE OPERATIONS
Intelligence Operation – includes Surveillance Operation, Counter Intelligence,
Intelligence Research, Intelligence Assessment and similar police intelligence
operation conducted to gather information related to security, public safety and order.
Investigation Operation – includes Investigation of Crime or Incident,
Administrative Investigation and similar investigative work necessary to determine
facts and circumstances for fi ling cases criminally or administratively.
Scene of the Crime Operation (SOCO) – includes the processing of crime scene,
technical and forensic examination of evidences and similar scientific investigative
assistance.
PRE-OPERATIONAL CLEARANCE

No police operation shall be conducted without the approval of the

Chief/Commander/Head of the concerned Police Unit/Office. A pre-operational
clearance shall be filed by the Team Leader of the operating team/s prior to the
conduct of the operation and shall be approved by the concerned Police Unit
Commander. This clearance shall be submitted to the operations section/division
of the concerned police unit for record purposes.
❖ Principle of Absolute Responsibility
❖ Need to Know Principle
INTER-UNIT COORDINATION

Personal Coordination or by Official Representative

• Team Leader/s (TL) of local police units operating outside their territorial
jurisdiction and National Support Units (NSUs) shall coordinate, personally
or through an official representative, with the Police Regional, Provincial or
City Police Office within whose jurisdiction the operation is to be conducted.
INTER-UNIT COORDINATION
Coordination by Filing Coordination Form
• Prior to the launching of the operation, except in cases where the formal (in
writing) inter-unit coordination cannot be made due to the nature and/or
urgency of the situation such as, but not limited to, cross-jurisdictional
pursuit operations, coordination should be made formally using the
prescribed Coordination Form, which shall be fi led with the concerned
operation center of the Police Regional, Provincial or City Office (Annex
“A” – Coordination Form).
INTER-UNIT COORDINATION
Coordination by Practical/Available Means of Communication
• In cases where formal inter-unit coordination is not feasible, the Police Unit
concerned shall endeavor to notify the territorial police office through any
practical/available means of communication at anytime during the operation
and, if not possible, shall accomplish and furnish the territorial Police Office
a written incident report immediately after the termination of the operation.
REQUIREMENTS OF
POLICE OPERATIONS
Basic Requirements
• Police operations like arrest, search and seizure, checkpoint, roadblocks,
demolition and civil disturbance management shall be conducted as follows:
1. With a marked police vehicle;
2. Led by a Police Commissioned Officer (PCO); and
3. With personnel in prescribed police uniform or attire.
REQUIREMENTS OF
POLICE OPERATIONS
Use of Megaphones and Similar Instruments
• During actual police intervention operations, the Team Leader shall use
peaceful means including the use of megaphones or any other similar
instruments to warn or influence the offender/s or suspect/s to stop and/or
peacefully give up.
Warning Shots Prohibited
• The police shall not use warning shots during police intervention operations.
USE OF FORCE DURING POLICE
OPERATIONS
Use of Excessive Force Prohibited
• The excessive use of force during police operation is prohibited. However, in
the lawful performance of duty, a police officer may use necessary force to
accomplish his mandated tasks of enforcing the law and maintaining peace
and order.
USE OF FORCE DURING POLICE
OPERATIONS
Issuance of Verbal Warning
• The police officer must first issue a verbal warning before he could use force
against an offender. As far as practicable, the verbal warning shall be in the
dialect that is known to the offender or in the national language. Basically the
verbal warning shall consist of the following: the police officer identifying
himself; his intention; and what he wants the offender to do. If the offender
is a foreigner, the verbal warning shall be done in the English language
followed by a demonstrative act of the police officer’s intent. The verbal
warning shall be done in a loud and clear manner.
USE OF FORCE DURING
POLICE OPERATIONS
Non-Issuance of Verbal Warning When Excusable
• The failure to issue a verbal warning is excusable in cases where threat to life
or property is already imminent, and there is no other option but to use force
to subdue the offender.
USE OF FORCE DURING
POLICE OPERATIONS
Use of Non-Lethal Weapon
When suspect is violent or threatening, and that less physical measures have
been tried and deemed inappropriate, a more extreme, but non-deadly measure
can be used such as baton/truncheon, pepper spray, stun gun and other
nonlethal weapon to bring the suspect under control, or effect an arrest.
USE OF FORCE DURING
POLICE OPERATIONS
Application of Necessary and Reasonable Force
• During confrontation with an armed offender, only such necessary and reasonable force should be
applied as would be sufficient to overcome the resistance put up by the offender; subdue the clear
and imminent danger posed by him; or to justify the force/act under the principles of self-defense,
defense of relative, or defense of stranger.
Factors to Consider in the Reasonableness of the Force Employed
• A police officer, however, is not required to afford offender/s attacking him the opportunity for a
fair or equal struggle. The reasonableness of the force employed will depend upon the number of
aggressors, nature and characteristic of the weapon used, physical condition, size and other
circumstances to include the place and occasion of the assault. The police officer is given the
sound discretion to consider these factors in employing reasonable force.
Responsibility of the Police Officer in
Charge of the Operation

• The police officer who is in charge of the operation shall, at all times,
exercise control over all police personnel in the area of operation, and shall
exhaust all possible means to apply the necessary and reasonable force to
protect lives and properties during armed confrontation.
Filing of an Incident Report
After the Use of Firearm

A police officer who fires his service fi rearm or weapon during a

confrontation with an offender or offenders must submit an incident report
outlining the circumstances necessitating the use of his firearm.
Procedures After an
Armed Confrontation
• Immediately after an armed confrontation, the officer who is in charge of the operation shall:
• Secure the site of confrontation;
• Take photographs;
• Check whether the situation still poses imminent danger;
• Evacuate the wounded to the nearest hospital;
• Ensure that all persons who died on the spot are not moved from their original position;
• Arrested suspects should be kept in isolation;
• Conduct debriefing on all involved PNP operatives;
• Submit After-Operations Report; and
• Ensure psychological stress counseling for all involved PNP operatives