I.

Police Operations

Categories of Police Operations

Police operations are categorized as follows:

1. Public Safety Operation - includes search, Rescue and Search, Rescue 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 or the Chief, Philippine National
Police and Unit Commanders, Anti-illegal Drugs Operation, Anti-Illegal Gambling
Operations, Anti-Illegal Logging Operations, Anti-llegal Fishing Operations, Anti Car
napping 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- 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 operation
Conducted to gather information related to security, public safety and order.

6. Investigation Operation - includes Investigation of crime or Incident, Administrative

Investigation and similar investigative work necessary to determine facts and
Circumstances for filing cases criminally or administratively

7. Scene of the Crime Operation (SOCO) – includes the processing of crime scene,
technical and forensic examination of evidences and similar scientific investigative
assistance.
 Operational Procedures

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.

Inter-Unit Coordination

1. 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.

2. 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 filed with the
Concerned operation center of the Police Regional, Provincial or City Office (Annex "A"-
Coordination Form).

3. 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 any time 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

1. Basic Requirements
Police operations like arrest, search and seizure, checkpoint, roadblocks, demolition
and civil disturbance management shall be conducted as follows:

a. With a marked police vehicle;

b. Led by a Police Commissioned Officer (PCo); and

c. With personnel in prescribed police uniform or attire.

2. 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.

3 Warning Shots Prohibited

The police shall not use warning shots during police intervention operations.

Use of Force during Police Operations

1. 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.

2. 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 demonstrative act of the police officer's intent. The verbal
warning shall be done in a loud and clear manner.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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 area of operation, and shall exhaust all possible means to
apply the necessary and reasonable force to protect lives and properties during armed
confrontation.

Use of Firearm during Police Operations

1. Use of Firearm When Justified

The use of firearm is justified if the offender poses imminent danger of causing death or
injury to the police officer or other persons. The use of firearm 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 on his 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.

2. Firing at Moving Vehicles Prohibited but with Exceptions

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, and that the
use of firearm does not create a danger to the public and outweigh the likely benefits of
its non-use.

3. Parameters to be considered in Firing at Moving Vehicles

In firing at a moving vehicle, the following parameters should be considered:

a. The intent of the suspect/s to harm the police officer or other persons;

b. The capability of the suspect/s to harm with certainty the police officer or other
persons; and

c. Accessibility or the proximity of the suspect/s from the police officer and other
persons.

4. Filing of an Incident Report after the Use of Firearm

A police officer who fires 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.

5. Procedures after an Armed Confrontation

Immediately after an armed confrontation, the officer who is in charge of the operation
shall

a. Secure the site of confrontation;

b. Take photographs;

c. Check whether the situation still poses imminent danger;

d. Evacuate the wounded to the nearest hospital;

e. Ensure that all persons who died on the spot are not moved from their original
position;

f. Arrested suspects should be kept in isolation;

g. Conduct debriefing on all involved PNP operatives;

h. Submit After-Operations Report; and

i. Ensure psychological stress counselling for all involved PNP operatives.

 Patrol Procedures

Patrol Guidelines

1. Observe precautionary measures and personal safety while on patrol;

2. Observe defensive driving and follow traffic rules and regulations

3. Select routes which provide best visibility;

4. Patrol members must be always on the look-out for indications of vices and other
illegal activities on their beat;

5. Patrol members must be knowledgeable of all conditions, events and details of

places on their beat;

6. Be observant of people, places, situations or conditions and develop a suspicious

attitude especially if the subject appears to be slightly out of the ordinary;

7, Keep under close observation actions of juveniles trouble makers/agitators and the
mentally ill/retarded persons: ally ill/retarded persons;

8. Be familiar, as much as possible, with known criminals/au convicts residing in or

frequenting the patrol beat;

9. Be familiar with stay-in employees of business establishments on your beat;

10. Be on the alert for loiterers;

11. Keep watch on uninhabited homes;

12. Observe the practice of "shaking doors" of unguarded business establishments

during night patrol. Check for signs of intrusion;

13. Establish good rapport with the people on your beat;

14. Develop contacts by getting to know as many people as possible who can give
factual information about crime conditions on the patrol beat;

15. Use tact and persuasiveness when conducting spot inquiry or questioning
individuals for information;

16. When requiring identification from a suspicious person or any individual, avoid
taking the wallet or bag in which the cards/documents are placed. Let the individual
remove and hand them to you
17. When checking suspicious persons, places, buildings/ establishments and vehicles
especially during night time, be prepared to use your service firearm. Flashlight should
be held tightly away from the body to avoid making you a possible target; and

18. Patrol members should avoid Ioitering in theaters, restaurants and other recreational
places.

Duties of Patrol Supervisors

1. In any operation, careful planning is a must in order to avoid waste of time, effort and
resources. Make a patrol plan with the following details:

a. Area Coverage: safe haven, ambush areas and crime prone areas;

b. Organizational Detail of Personnel;

c. Duration;

d. Stand-by points; and

e. Route plan.

2. Designate and select the members of the patrol team/s;

3. Inspect the members of the patrol for completeness of uniforms, operational

readiness and all government-issued equipment (firearms, mobile car, radio, etc.) to
ensure that these are well-maintained and properly used by the Patrol Officer;

4. Conduct briefing prior to dispatch by disseminating any orders, directives or

instructions from the Chief of Police or higher authorities and new policy or guidelines
being implemented by the PNP Organization;

5. Remind the patrol team about the strict observance of the PNP Operational
Procedures;

6 Strictly observe "Buddy System" during the patrol operations;

7. Render hourly report of location and situation through radio/ telephone/cell phone to
Police Community Precinct (PCP)/ Station Headquarters Tactical Operation Center
(TOC);

8. Render after-patrol report duly signed by detailed personnel. PCP Commanders shall
collate and submit significant details to the Station Patrol Supervisor, who in turn, will
submit the same to the Provincial/District Patrol Supervisor; and
9 Conduct debriefing after the patrol to assess its conduct and make necessary
corrective measures on defects noted.

Duties of Patrol Officer

1. Attend the Roll Call Formation before his Tour of Duty for briefing and likewise attend
the after Tour of Duty formation for debriefing;

2. Patrol the assigned beats, observe and check suspicious people, structures/buildings,
compounds and vehicles;

3. Observe and monitor public gatherings, prevent disorders and disperse unlawful
assemblies;

4. Inspect and/or conduct surveillance in various business establishments and other

installations and remove hazards to public safety;

5. Check suspicious vehicles (private, public, or commercial delivery vehicles) along the
main roads/ highways in the course of their patrol;

6. Report occurrences and conditions which relate to crime public peace, order and
safety;

7. Prevent crimes and arrest sighted law violators, assuring the public that peace is
preserved;

8. Conduct regular visitations, dialogues/consultations with the residents and other

stakeholders;

9. 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;

10. Enforce city/municipal ordinances on liquor establishments and night clubs,

cabarets and all houses of ill-repute;

11. Respond to calls, entertain complaints, initiate the to the investigation and protection
of the scene and minimize the after-effects of accidents, fires and other catastrophes;

12. Patrol Officers shall wear the prescribed patrol uniform; and

13. Patrol Officers must have the equipment necessary in the performance of their duty.
Guidelines and Procedures when Responding to Calls for Police Assistance

1. Gather and note down in the patrol officer's logbook all data as to the nature of the
calls, date, time and name of the caller. It may be regular, urgent or emergency in
nature.

2. The manner of approach will be dependent on the nature the call, either with
haste/secrecy or with/without flashing lights and sirens.

3. Consider the pertinent factors like the time, traffic conditions, the possibility of greater
damage and the neighborhood characteristics.

4. Stop the patrol car some distance from the scene. Approach the scene on foot, in
complete silence and exercising extreme caution.

5. Immediately attend to the injured, unless the other members of the patrol are in
immediate danger.

6. Focus all efforts to arrest criminals; however, priority shall be given to aiding the
injured.

7. Determine the crime committed, identify and question briefly the victim/complainant
and possible witnesses at the scene.

8. If the suspects or criminals have fled the scene before the arrival of the patrol team,
immediately relay the composition, armament, appearance, and mode and direction of
escape of the suspects to the Operations Center for the conduct of dragnet operations.

9. When responding to street fights/brawls, the patrol member should call for back-up
before intervening. If there are no injuries and insufficient corroborative statements
obtained to identify who started the fight, disperse the crowd and make complete notes.

10. Never treat calls or complaints of loud noises caused by barking dogs, drunks,
appliances and parties as negligible or a nuisance. They only need courteous and
tactful intervention and not enforcement actions.

11. When responding to calls for police assistance due to planted or found explosives,
never attempt to handle, move or lift the object. Instead contact Operations Center and
request for Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team (EODT). On- lookers must be promptly
led to a safe distance away from the scene.

12. When responding to calls from owners of beer houses, bars or inns or any other
similar establishments during night time, request the owner to put the lights on first
before entering the establishments.
13. Do not attempt to arbitrate and resolve conflicts/differences between neighbors,
landlords/tenants, husband and wife.