The Philippine National Police Operations
The Philippine National Police Operations
Criminology
Module 1
Police Operations encompass a wide range of activities, particularly patrol and traffic
operations, implementation of special laws, command and control, civil disturbance, disaster
management, terrorism, deployment of troops, internal security operations and community-
oriented policing, with due regard to human rights. Almost eight years after its initial publication
in September 2002, the Police Operational Procedures (POP) Manual was revised and updated
in consideration of developments in law enforcement and peacekeeping which is one of the
projects under the PNP’s Integrated Transformation Program spearheaded by the Chief, PNP.
Among the most significant updates in operational processes and procedures is the
inclusion of human rights protection which should be provided to both victims and criminals.
This PNP Operational Procedures (POP) Manual holds the key to successful police actions.
And if faithfully followed to the letter, it would shield law enforcers from criminal and
administrative liabilities as they fulfil their mandate to serve and protect the community.
1. Public Safety Operation – includes Search, Rescue, and Retrieval Operations, Fire
Drills, Earthquake Drills, and similar operations that promote public safety.
2. 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, AntiIllegal 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.
3. Internal Security Operation – includes Counter-Insurgency Operations, Counter-
Terrorist Operations, and similar operations that are conducted to ensure internal
security.
4. 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.
5. Intelligence Operation – includes Surveillance Operation, Counter Intelligence,
Intelligence Research, Intelligence Assessment, and similar police intelligence
operations conducted to gather information related to security, public safety, and
order.
OPERATIONAL PROCEDURES
2. INTER-UNIT COORDINATION
2. Filing Coordination Form - The filing of the coordination form shall be shall be
filed with the concerned operation center of the Police Regional, Provincial or
City Office prior to the launching of the operation, except in cases where inter-
unit coordination cannot be made due to the nature and/or urgency of the
situation, but not limited to, cross-jurisdictional pursuit operations, coordination
should be made formally (in writing) using the prescribed Coordination Form
as prescribed in the manual
A. Basic Requirements
Police operations like arrest, search and seizure, checkpoint, roadblocks,
demolition and civil disturbance management shall be conducted as follows:
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.
· The police officer must first issue a verbal warning before he could use force
against an offender.
· The verbal warning shall be in the dialect that is known to the offender or in
the national language.
· 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.
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.
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.
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
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A police officer, however, is not required to afford offender/s attacking him for 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.
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.
On the occasion when the offender poses an imminent danger of causing death or
injury to the police officer or other persons. The use of firearms is also justified
under the doctrines of self-defense, defense of a relative, and defense of a
stranger. However, one who resorts to self-defense must face a real threat in
his/her life, and the peril sought to be avoided must be actual, imminent and real.
Unlawful aggression should be present for self-defense to be considered as a
justifying circumstance. (Article 11 of the RPC).
A moving vehicle shall not be fired upon except when its occupants pose
imminent danger of causing death or injury to the police officer or any other
person, except that the use of firearms does not create a danger to the public and
outweighs the likely benefits of its non-use.
· The intent of the suspect/s to harm the police officer or other persons.
· The capability of the suspect/s to harm with certainty the police officer
or other people.
· Accessibility or the proximity of the suspect/s from the police officer and
A police officer who fired his service firearm or weapon during a confrontation
with an offender or offenders must submit an incident report outlining the
circumstances necessitating the use of his firearm.
6. PATROL PROCEDURES
1. Patrol Guidelines
a. Attend the Roll Call Formation before his Tour of Duty for briefing and
likewise attend the after Tour of Duty formation for debriefing;
b. Patrol the assigned beats, observe and check suspicious people,
structures/buildings, compounds and vehicles;
c. Observe and monitor public gatherings, prevent disorders and disperse
unlawful assemblies;
d. Inspect and/or conduct surveillance in various business establishments
and other installations and remove hazards to public safety;
e. Check suspicious vehicles (private, public, or commercial/delivery
vehicles) along the main roads/ highways in the course of their patrol.
f. Report occurrences and conditions which relate to crime, public peace,
order and safety.
g. Prevent crimes and arrest sighted law violators, assuring the public that
peace is preserved.
h. Conduct regular visitations, dialogues/consultations with the residents
and other stakeholders.
i. Assist personnel of responsible agencies/unit in facilitating the flow of
traffic at busy intersections/roads within his Area of Responsibility
(AOR), assist and provide pedestrian information such as directions
and street locations;
j. Enforce city/municipal ordinances on liquor establishments and
nightclubs, cabarets and all houses of ill-repute;
a. Gather and note down in the patrol officer’s logbook all available data
as to the nature of the calls, date, time and name of the caller. It may
be regular, urgent or emergency in nature.
b. The manner of approach will be dependent on the nature of the call,
either with haste/secrecy or with/ without flashing lights and sirens.
c. Consider the pertinent factors like the time, traffic conditions, the
possibility of greater damage and the neighborhood characteristics.
Spot Check/Accosting - The police officer may stop an individual for the purpose of
conducting a spot check/ accosting only when reasonable suspicion exists. Reasonable
suspicion must be more than just a hunch or feeling. In justifying the stop, the police officer
must be able to point to specific facts that, when taken together with rational inferences,
reasonably warrant the stop.
Such facts include, but are not limited to, the following:
Body Frisk/Pat-Down Search - A police officer has the right to perform a pat-down
search if the individual has been legitimately stopped with reasonable suspicion and when the
police officer has reason to believe that the individual possesses weapon/s on his person and
poses a threat to the police officer’s or another person’s safety.
A. Spot Check/Accosting
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B.S. Criminology
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a spot check/accosting or pat-down search, the police officer has no basis for making an arrest,
he should record the facts of such spot check/accosting or pat-down search and forward a
report to the appropriate authority. If the spot check/accosting or pat-down search gives a
justification
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The checkpoint team shall be composed of, but not limited to, the following:
1. Team Leader (TL) - shall lead and take responsibility in the conduct of checkpoint
preferably an officer with the rank of at least Police Inspector;
2. Spotter - PNP personnel who will point/profile suspected vehicle subject for checkpoint;
3. Spokesperson - TL or member who is in charge of communicating with the motorists
subject for checkpoint.
4. Investigation Sub-team - in charge of investigation and documentation of possible
incidents in the checkpoint to include issuance of Traffic Citation Ticket (TCT) or Traffic
Violation Report (TVR)
5. Search/Arresting Sub-Team - designated to conduct search, seizure and arrest, if
necessary Security Sub-Team - tasked to provide security in the checkpoint area
Blocking/Pursuing Sub-Team - team tasked to block/ pursue fleeing suspects/vehicle.
Guidelines in Checkpoints
1. Mobile checkpoints are authorized only when established in conjunction with ongoing
police operations. Only officially marked vehicles with blinkers turned on, if available,
shall be used in establishing mobile checkpoints.
2. Checkpoints are established to enforce circulation control measures, laws, orders and
regulations, and when there is a need to arrest a criminal or fugitive from justice.
3. The composition of the personnel manning the checkpoint shall be left to the sound
discretion of the Team Leader (TL), with the consideration of female PNP officer in the
team especially when there is an anticipated female suspect.
4. The minimum Police Checkpoint team should at least be composed of an 8-man
complement, with three verifiers, one spotter, one TL, one profiler, one rear security and
one advance security.
5. The Team manning checkpoints must have immediate contact with the LGUs, Public
Attorney’s Office (PAO) or any member of the Philippine bar, and/or the media (for drug
cases).
6. The Team should encourage the participation of, but not limited to, the Local
Government Units (LGUs), Civil Society Groups, Non-Governmental Organizations
(NGOs), business organizations, other civic groups, media and other stakeholders during
the conduct of Police Checkpoint operations.
7. The participation of the civilians and the presence of the media in the conduct of the
checkpoint must be confined only as observers to give police additional eyes and
promote transparency of activities in the area.
8. All civic groups or organizations to include the media, who are inclined to participate in
Operation Report to their respective units or organization for proper evaluation of the
efficacy of the operation.
d. The Spotter of the team will be pre-positioned in a place where he can best point/profile
suspected vehicles prior to their approach to the checkpoint.
e. Search/Arresting Sub-Team shall flag down suspected vehicles and conduct search,
seizure and arrest, if necessary.
f. In the event of seized drugs, the team having initial custody and control of the drugs shall
immediately conduct physical inventory and photograph the same in the presence of the
accused or the person/s from whom such items were confiscated and/or seized, or his/her
representative or counsel, a representative from the media and DOJ, any elected public
official who shall be required to sign the copy of the inventory and be given a copy thereof;
g. Arrested persons and seized items shall be turned over to the investigation sub-team for
1 2021 Copyright Philippine College of Criminology. All rights reserved.
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h. In the event that the checkpoint is ignored, and the occupants of the vehicle open fire on
the personnel manning the checkpoint, reasonable force to overcome the suspects’
aggression may be employed;
1. PNP personnel conducting mobile patrols on board patrol vehicles will initially man the
checkpoint, to be complemented by additional personnel upon arrival of reinforcement. A
collapsible signage with markings: “Stop, Police Checkpoint '' if available, indicating also
the name of the concerned police office/unit conducting the operations, will be used for
the purpose
2. In the case of PNP personnel conducting Internal Security Operation (ISO) or foot patrol,
where a vehicle and collapsible signage is not readily available, the checkpoint shall be
manned initially by said personnel
3. The team shall immediately inform Higher Headquarters of the exact location of the
hasty Checkpoint to include personnel involved and available equipment;
4. In a hasty checkpoint, where there is a possibility of high risk stop and high-risk arrest,
and there is an urgency for troop deployment and that public safety might be at risk, the
participation of the civilian component and the presence of the media in the checkpoint
operation shall not be allowed
5. The Unit Commander of the personnel manning the hasty checkpoint shall immediately
send additional personnel, equipment and signage to the area in order to convert the
Hasty Checkpoint into a Regular Checkpoint;
6. As soon as the Hasty Checkpoint is converted into a Regular Checkpoint, TL shall follow
the procedures under rule ( 11.4c of this Rule. 11.6)
General Procedure to be Followed When Checkpoints are Ignored When checkpoints are
ignored
members of the blocking/pursuing team shall block or pursue the errant fleeing
motorist;
2. Warning shots shall not be allowed due to the confusion it may create for
the driver and passengers of the vehicle. Megaphones or police sirens
shall be used instead during the pursuit. The plate number of the vehicle
shall be noted and given to other units in adjacent areas to prevent the
possibility that the vehicle may elude the pursuit operation;
While in Mobile Car This rule is a general concept and will not apply in hot pursuit
operations. The mobile car crew shall undertake the following, when applicable:
The following are the procedures to be followed in dealing with hostile drivers:
a. Stopping Vehicles
1. Follow the procedure stated in paragraphs a to c of Rule 11.7;
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b. Fleeing Vehicles
1. In the event that the motor vehicle did not stop despite the warning given,
inform Headquarters or adjacent units so that dragnet operations or police
defensive roadblocks can be set-up;
2. Inform Headquarters of the make or type, plate number and color of the
motor vehicle to be accosted including the number of occupants and, if
possible, their identity;
3. State the reason(s) for flagging down the suspected motor vehicle;
4. Give mobile car’s location and its direction before making actual intervention;
5. When the vehicle of the suspect is cornered or stopped, instruct the driver
and other occupants in a clear and commanding voice to follow specifically
what you will require of them. Failure on their part to follow will be construed
as a hostile act on their part. Execute instructions on the use of reasonable
force;
6. Instruct the driver to turn off the ignition and toss the key to the ground,
open the door and step out of the vehicle, then instruct him to place his
hands on top of the vehicle, or to move towards you with his hands up;
7. Instruct other occupants of the vehicle, if any, to come out one by one, and
follow what the driver has been instructed to do earlier;
8. Arrest, handcuff and search the suspects and bring them to Headquarters
for proper disposition; and
9. Before moving out, inform Headquarters about the situation, status and
disposition of the suspects and motor vehicle accosted.
1. Team Leader (TL) - shall lead and take responsibility in the conduct of
roadblock preferably an officer with the rank of at least Police Inspector (Police
Lieutenant);
2. Forward observer/spotter - PNP personnel who will point/profile suspected
vehicle subject for roadblock;
3. Spokesperson - TL or member who is solely in charge of communicating with
the armed suspects onboard a motor vehicle subject for roadblock;
4. Sniper - to render the vehicle un-operational to avoid escape and provide
firepower support to neutralize armed and hostile suspects during firefight;
5. Investigation Sub-team - in charge of investigation and documentation of the
roadblock;
6. Search/Arresting Sub-Team - designated to conduct search, seizure and arrest;
The Team Leader (TL) shall brief the elements/ members of the Police Roadblock
and perform the following:
■ Inform the next higher Headquarters of the make or type and plate number
of the motor vehicle to be accosted, including the number and, if possible,
identity of the occupants;
■ State the reason(s) for the planned intervention of the suspected motor
vehicle;
■ Give the exact location of the roadblock to include personnel involved,
available equipment and marked vehicles;
■ Coordinate with the Chief of Police and friendly forces who has territorial
jurisdiction over the area;
■ Immediately contact adjacent units to inform them of the situation so that
these units can conduct dragnet operation, while the members of the
blocking/pursuing team shall block or pursue the fleeing suspects/ vehicle.
Procedures when suspects open fi re/engage the troops: In the event that the occupants of
the vehicle open fire on the personnel manning the roadblock, reasonable force to overcome
the suspects’ aggression may be employed; Use only necessary force to neutralize suspects;
Arrested persons must be apprised of their rights in reference to the Miranda Doctrine;
and an After-Roadblock Operations Report must be submitted to their respective units or
organization for proper evaluation of the efficacy of the operation.
Account for the casualties and give immediate medical assistance to the wounded;
Protect/preserve the crime scene/ engagement area and ensure proper documentation of the
process.
Fleeing Vehicles:
In the event that the motor vehicle did not stop and it evaded the roadblock despite the
warning given, inform Headquarters or adjacent units so that another roadblock can be set-up;
● Fleeing vehicles shall not be fired upon except by a sniper but only to disable the vehicle;
● Inform Headquarters of the make or type, plate number and color of the motor vehicle to
be accosted including the number of occupants and, if possible, their identity;
● State the reason(s) for flagging down the suspected motor vehicle;
● Give mobile car’s location and its direction before making actual intervention; and
● Establish Hot Pursuit Operation.
The PNP is mandated to provide active support to the Armed Forces of the Philippines
(AFP) in Internal Security Operations (ISO) for the suppression of the Communist Terrorist
The PNP in an Active Support Role The PNP shall perform the following:
Defensive Position of Police Stations, especially those located in far-flung areas, are
priority targets of attacks. As such, security measures against CT atrocities must be undertaken
as follows:
● Continuously remind all PNP personnel to be extra vigilant and security conscious
in their day-to-day activities and during troop movements.
● Duty station guards shall memorize, internalize and put into practice the 11
General Orders of a Duty Guard. They shall always carry their issued long fi
firearms and ammunition rig/bandoliers with basic load.
● Vigorously implement added security measures in all Police Stations and Police
Community Precincts.
● Conduct sustained inspection of the operational readiness of PNP fi eld
units/stations.
● Always keep in mind the modus operandi, strategies and tactics being
practiced/employed by the CTM and other threat groups.
● Enhance the establishment of Advance Security Control Points (ASCPs) to control
the ingress and egress of people in Police Stations.
● One of the strategies and tactics employed by CTM and other threat groups to
gain access to police stations is by wearing PNP/AFP uniforms and that of other
LEAs, hence, personnel assigned in the advance security control points shall not
allow entry of uniformed groups or any individuals without prior coordination.
Your Tasks: Identify the word/phrase being described by the following statements. Write
your answer on the space provided before each number.
Bibliography
1. https://pro1.pnp.gov.ph/Downloads/POP.pdf
2. http://www.pnp.gov.ph/images/Manuals_and_Guides/pop_manual_2013-1.pdf