Angeles University Foundation

History of Policing System

(LEA 02 : Comparative Models in Policing)

Submitted by:
Muñoz, Micaella D.
BS-Criminology 2-A

History of Philippine Policing System

The institution of police in the Philippines formally started during Spanish period. The establishment of the
police was not entirely intended for crime prevention nor peacekeeping. Rather, it was created as an
extension of the colonial military establishment.
 .

ANCIENT ROOTS
The forerunner of the contemporary police system was the practice of
barangay chieftain to select able-bodied young men to protect their
barangay during the night. Among the duties of those selected were to
protect the properties of the people in the barangay and protect their
crops and livestock from wild animal.

CARABINEROS DE SEGURIDAD PUBLICA

Organized in 1712 for the purpose of the carrying the regulations of
the department of state; this was armed and considered as the mounted
police; years after, this kind of police organization discharged the
duties of a port, harbor and river police

GUARDRILLEROS/CUARDILLO
This was a body of rural police organized in each town and established by
the Royal Decree of 18 January 1836; this decree provided that 5% of the
able-bodied male inhabitants of each province were to be enlisted in the
police organization for three years.

1901 (General Howard Taft)

The Americans established the United States Philippine Commission headed by General Howard Taft as
first governor-general. On January 9, 1901, the Metropolitan Police Force of Manila was organized
pursuant to Act No. 70 of the Taft Commission. This has become the basis for the celebration of the
anniversary of the Manila’s Finest every January 9th.

 Act no. 175 – entitled “An Act Providing for the Organization and Government of an Insular
Constabulary”, enacted on July 18, 1901.
 Capt. Henry Allen – the first chief of the Philippine Constabulary in 1901.
 Act no. 193 – created the Manila Police Department, enacted on July 31, 1901
 Capt. George Curry – the first chief of police of the Manila Police Department in 1901.
 Act no. 255 – the act that renamed the Insular Constabulary into Philippine Constabulary,
enacted on October 3, 1901

EXECUTIVE ORDER 389

Ordered that the Philippine Constabulary be one of the four services of the Armed Forces of the
Philippines, enacted on December 23, 1940, Post-American period.
 History of U.S. Policing System

The development of policing in the United States closely followed the development of policing in
England. In the early colonies policing took two forms. It was both informal and communal, which is
referred to as the “Watch,” or private-for-profit policing, which is called “The Big Stick”

INDUSTRIAL AGE
 London - 1829 established the London Metropolitan
-Police—1st modern organized police
 Became a model for American Police

EARLY AMERICAN POLICE

Early efforts in American cities were focused on controlling certain groups, regulating trade, maintaining
health and sanitation. Governors of the colonies appointed a sheriff in each county, their duties included
managing jails and selecting juries

THE FIRST POLICE DEPARTMENT

Boston created a night watch in 1636, New York in 1658 and Philadelphia in 1700. The night watch was
not a particularly effective crime control device.
Watchmen often slept or drank on duty. While the watch was theoretically voluntary, many “volunteers”
were simply attempting to evade military service, were conscript forced into service by their town, or
were performing watch duties as a form of punishment.

Philadelphia created the first day watch in 1833 and New York instituted a day watch in 1844 as a
supplement to its new municipal police force.

THE SPOILS SYSTEM

 Corruption rampant.
 This period also known as the political era, this patronage system lasted from approximately
1840 to 1930.

MODERNIZATION OF THE AMERICAN POLICE

 1929, President Hoover created the Wickersham Commission which focused on two areas of
policing that needed reform: police brutality and the corrupting influence of politics.
 Focused on Professionalism and Administrative reform

These informal modalities of policing continued well after the American Revolution. It was not until the
1830s that the idea of a centralized municipal police department first emerged in the United States. In
1838, the city of Boston established the first American police force, followed by New York City in
1845, Albany, NY and Chicago in 1851, New Orleans and Cincinnati in 1853, Philadelphia in 1855, and
Newark, NJ and Baltimore in 1857. By the 1880s all major U.S. cities had municipal police forces in
place.
 AUGUST VOLLMER
 August Vollmer known as father of modern police
administration.
 Promoted higher learner for police officers.
 Promoted professional model of policing.

ADMINISTRATIVE REFORMS
 Police chiefs began to take control of their departments.
 Upper management positions were created in the department.
 Special units were created.
 Beginnings of new technology: fingerprints, patrol cars and other developments.

PRE-POLITICAL ERA
Birth of the nation to 1870
 Diverse, uncoordinated attempts to develop police to meet the unique needs of a
community
e.g. Texas Rangers - cattle rustling
 Sheriffs & Marshal - maintaining order in towns

POLITICAL ERA
Mid-19th Century
 Political machines recruited cops to encourage citizens to vote for the “right”
candidates.
 Thugs were hired to intimidate, intrude, and to exert political influence.
 Lots of corruption, payoffs, organized crime, etc.

PROFESSIONAL ERA
20th Century
 Three forces for change:
Organized move for professionalism
Modern communications technology
Civil rights movement

EARLY POLICEWOMEN
 The Portland (OR) police department hired the first policewoman, Lola Baldwin, as a
juvenile specialist in 1905.
 First female Police Chief was Penny Harrington, Portland (OR) in 1985.
 First African American female officer was Cora Parchment for NYPD in 1919.
 The first policewoman DID NOT perform regular police duty, usually did not wear
uniforms, did not carry weapons, and had only limited arrest powers.

POLICE REFORM THROUGH FEDERAL LITIGATION

Federal Litigation against police departments authorized by the 1994 Violent Crime Control Act,
Section 14141, allowed the Civil Rights Division of the Justice Department to sue law enforcement
agencies if a “pattern or practice” of violations of citizens rights existed.
 RA 4864
Otherwise known as the Police Professionalization Act of 1966, enacted on September 8, 1966; created
the Police Commission (POLCOM) as a supervisory agency to oversee the training and
professionalization of the local police forces under the office of the President; later POLCOM was
renamed into National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM).

PD 765
Otherwise known as the Integration Act of 1975, enacted on August 8, 1975; established the Integrated
National Police (INP) composed of the Philippine Constabulary (PC) as the nucleus and the integrated
local police forces as components, under the Ministry of National Defense.
-transferred the NAPOLCOM from the office of the President to the Ministry of National Defense.

PROVIDING MEASURES TO IMPROVE THE ADMINISTRATIVE AND OPERATIONAL

FRAMEWORK FOR MAINTAINING PEACE AND ORDER AT THE PROVINCIAL, CITY
AND MUNICIPAL LEVELS
Executive Order No. 1012 – transferred to the city and municipal government the operational
supervision and direction over all INP units assigned within their locality; issued on March 22, 1985

TRANSFERRING THE NATIONAL POLICE COMMISSION TO THE OFFICE OF THE

PRESIDENT
Executive Order No 1040 – transferred the administrative control and supervision of the INP from the
Ministry of National Defense to the National Police Commission. Issued on July 10, 1985.

AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL POLICE UNDER A RE-

ORGANIZED DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT, AND
FOR OTHER PURPOSES
RA 6975 - Otherwise known as the Department of the Interior and Local Government Act of 1990,
enacted on December 13, 1990; reorganized the DILG and established the Philippine National Police,
Bureau of Fire Protection, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology and the Philippine Public Safety
College.
RA 8551 – otherwise known as the Philippine National Police Reform and Reorganization Act of 1998,
enacted on February 25, 1998; this law amended certain provisions of RA 6975.

AN ACT EXTENDING FOR FIVE (5) YEARS THE REGLEMENTARY PERIOD FOR
COMPLYING WITH THE MINIMUM EDUCATION QUALIFICATION FOR
APPOINTMENT TO THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL POLICE (PNP) AND ADJUSTING THE
PROMOTION SYSTEM THEREOF, AMENDING FOR THE PUROPOSE PERTINENT
PROVISIONS OF THE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 6975 AND REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8551 AND FOR
OTHER PURPOSES
RA 9708 – law amending the provisions of RA 6975 and RA 8551 on the minimum education
qualification for appointment to the PNP and adjusting promotion system; approved on 12 August 2009

IMPORTANT FILIPINO PERSONALITIES IN THE EVOLUTION OF THE PHILIPPINE

POLICING
 Brig. Gen Rafael Crame-The first Filipino Chief of the Philippine Constabulary in 1917.
 P/DG Cesar Nazareno - The first Chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP)
 Col. Antonio Torres - The first Filipino Chief of Police of the Manila Police Department on
March 2, 1936.
 Col. Lamberto Javalera - The first Chief of Police of the Manila Police Department after the
Philippine Independence from the United States of America on July 4, 1946