Napolcom expands police powers of governors, mayors

MANILA, Philippines – The National Police Commission has expanded the police powers given to governors and mayors as Napolcom deputies.

The Napolcom, chaired by Interior Secretary Mel Senen Sarmiento, has approved Memorandum Circular No. 2015-003 dated Nov. 12, 2015 that prescribes the additional functions and duties of local chief executives (LCEs) as Napolcom deputies.

Napolcom vice-chairman and executive officer Eduardo Escueta said that the LCEs are now authorized to formulate and adopt effective mechanisms for the coordination, cooperation and consultation involving the local executives, citizenry and law enforcement agencies consistent with and in pursuance of the implementation of the Community and Service-Oriented Policing (CSOP) system.

With their expanded functions, governors and mayors are now mandated to formulate and pursue a three-year, term-based Peace and Order and Public Safety Plan, following the guidelines and policies of the Department of the Interior and Local Government.

The plan will then be incorporated in the Comprehensive Development Plan of local government units.

They are likewise authorized to convene the Peace and Order Council (POC) quarterly, or as often as the need arises, and submit semestral POC accomplishment reports. City/municipal POC accomplishment reports must be submitted to the Provincial POC, while PPOC accomplishment reports must be submitted to the Regional POC.

“The grant of additional authority to the LCEs on top of their mandated powers and functions is intended to boost local development through a more strengthened tripartite collaboration between local executives, police and the community,” Escueta said.

Failure of a governor or mayor to perform the additional functions and duties shall be deemed engaging in acts which negate the effectiveness of the peace and order campaign of the country and which, once validated or established, shall be a ground for the suspension or withdrawal of the deputation by the commission.

Escueta also said that governors and mayors are automatically deputized as representatives of the Napolcom in their respective jurisdictions pursuant to Section 64 of Republic Act No. 8551 (PNP Reform and Reorganization Act of 1998).  

Under Section 51 of RA 6975, as amended by RA 8551, governors have the power to choose the PNP provincial director from a list of three eligible police officials recommended by the PNP regional director.

As Napolcom deputies, governors and mayors are also authorized to oversee the implementation of the Provincial Public Safety Plan in their capacity as chair of the Provincial POC.

City and municipal mayors are empowered to exercise operational supervision and control over the PNP units in their respective jurisdictions; develop and establish, in coordination with the local peace and order council of which they serve as chairman, an Integrated Area or Community Public Safety Plan for implementation by the local police stations; and impose disciplinary penalties for minor offenses committed by PNP members assigned in their jurisdiction.

They are also authorized to choose the chief of police from a list of five eligible officers recommended by the provincial police director, recommend the transfer, reassignment or detail of PNP members outside their respective city/town residences; and recommend from a list of eligible officers the appointment of new PNP members to be assigned to their respective cities and municipalities.

The Napolcom earlier approved the implementation of the CSOP system through the issuance of Resolution No. 2015-342 dated July 21, 2015 to enable the PNP to fully perform its third mandate, which is to further strengthen local government capability aimed at the effective delivery of basic services to the citizenry in addition to promoting peace and order and ensuring public safety.