Integrated National Police

The Integrated National Police (INP) (Filipino: Pinagsamang Pulisyang Pambansa) (PPP) was one of two national police forces in the Philippines prior to 1991. It served basically as the municipal police force for the cities and large towns of the country.

Development

Until the mid-1970s, the independent city and municipal police forces took charge of maintaining peace and order on a local level, calling on the PC for aid when the need arose. The National Police Commission was established in 1966 to improve the professionalism and training of local police and exercised some supervisory authority over the police. However, it was widely seen that this system had several serious defects such jurisdictional limitations, lack of uniformity, poor interagency coordination, disputes between police forces. Lastly was the partisan political involvement in police employment, appointments, assignments, and promotions with local political bosses routinely using the police as private armies to protect their personal interests and intimidate their political opponents.

In order to correct such deficiencies, the 1973 constitution provided for the integration of public safety forces. Several presidential decrees were subsequently issued, integrating the police, fire, and jail services in the 1,500 cities and municipalities into the INP. On August 8, 1975, Presidential Decree 765 officially established the joint command structure of the Philippine Constabulary and Integrated National...
Read More