SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC ) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
S E N A T E  
Senate Bill No. 1310
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Introduced by SENATOR LACSON
AN ACT
TO STRENGTHEN THE INTERNAL AFFAIRS SERVICE OF THE PHILIPPINE 
NATIONAL POLICE, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE CERTAIN 
PROVISIONS OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 6975 AS AMENDED BY REPUBLIC 
ACT NO. 8551, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Republic Act No. 8551, otherwise known as the Philippine National Police 
(PNP) Reform and Reorganization Act of 1998 established the Internal Affairs Service 
(IAS) as the mandated institutional watchdog agency for the PNP organization.
A study1 on the role of police in democracies starts with a thesis question, 
“how can the citizens of a democracy control their police?” Its response runs parallel to 
the I unctions of IAS as an oversight office: democratic policing must be accountable 
when they violate rules, laws and civil rights. Police must be accountable for both their 
behavior and the protection of public safety, and they must be accountable to multiple 
mechanisms.
In order for IAS to fulfill said functions, it is crucial that the pertinent 
provisions of the law guarantee that the organization is capacitated and empowered in 
instilling discipline and enhancing performance of personnel and units of the police force 
at all levels of its command.
However, while the performance of IAS in its almost two decades of existence 
is commendable, it is without a doubt that much is still to be desired. In light of the drug 
war being implemented by the current administration, this is an opportune time to revisit 
the structure, powers and functions of the IAS with the end in view of strengthening and 
making it more effective and efficient.
One of the highlights of this measure is the provision of a mandatory period by 
which an investigation conducted by the IAS must be concluded. Accordingly, internal
C h ris to p h e r S to n e  a n d  H e a th e r H . W a rd . (7  M a> 2 0 1 0 ). Democratic Policing: A Framework for Action. 1-3. 
R e trie v e d  fro m  h ttp ://a rc h iv e .v e ra .o rg /s ite s /d e ra u lt/rile s /re s o iirc c s /d o w n lo a d s /s to n e _ w a rd .p d f


affairs investigations shall be completed in a period not exceeding thirty (30) days after 
which the appropriate administrative and/or criminal charges shall be filed immediately 
thereafter. The IAS shall have at most thirty (30) days to resolve the administrative case 
against any erring member of the PNP.
The IAS is also given the power to formulate and adopt its own disciplinary 
rules and mechanism. The provisions of the AFP Military Justice System may also be 
applied by analogy or in a suppletory character whenever practical and convenient, in 
disciplinary cases against PNP uniformed personnel.
In addition, the decisions of the IAS with respect to cases under its jurisdiction 
shall be final and executory. To bolster its fiscal independence, the IAS shall have an 
automatic, direct, full and regular release of funds based on the approved annual general 
appropriations.
Further, this bill expands the morn propio investigation powers of the IAS to 
cover all acts and omissions, which tend to discredit the institution and hinder it from 
performing its tasks effectively and efficiently.
Through mechanisms and policies institutionalized by IAS, we can assure that we 
uphold the precepts of democratic policing, in such a way that,
“police shall uphold the law; they are accountable to democratic 
oversight institutions and to the communities they serve; they are 
transparent in their activities; they are representative of the community 
they serve; they give highest operational priority to protecting the safety 
and rights of individuals and to protecting human rights; they treat their 
personnel decently, and seek to build professional skills and conditions 
of service that support efficient and respectful service delivery to the 
public.”3
In view thereof, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
PAN FILCr M. XACSON 
vSeA ator
3 USAID program brief: Anticorruption and Police Integrity Security Sector Reform Program (M a y  2 0 0 7 ), 2 . 
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SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC } 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
}
First Regular Session 
}
SENATE 1 „ 1 n 
Senate Bill No. J - ^ lO
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Introduced by SENATOR LACSON
AN ACT
TO STRENCTHIEN t h e in t e r n a l Al l a ir s s e r v ic e o f t h e 
PHILIPPINE NATIONAL POLICE, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE 
CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 6975 AS AMENDED 
BY REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8551, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in Congress
assembled:
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SECriON I. 
Statement Policy. The Internal Affairs Service (IAS)
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of the Philippine National Police shall be the primary instrument to measure,
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enhance and instill performance and discipline among all units and individuals in
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the institution. The IAS shall conduct its investigation and prosecution in an
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impartial, independent, expeditious and professional manner thereby ensuring the
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citizenry of unbiased results.
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SECTION 2. 
Organization of the Internal Affairs Service. The
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IAS shall have a National, Regional, District, Provincial and City Offices where
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applicable, which shall be established by the Inspector General and approved by
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the PNP Chief
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SECTION 3. 
The Inspector General. The head of the IAS shall be
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the Inspector General (IG) with a rank of a Police Deputy Director General. He
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will be assisted by a Deputy Inspector General for Administration (DIGA); and a
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Deputy Inspector General for Operations (DIGO); both with the rank of Police
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Director. The Inspector General of the IAS shall exercise administrative and
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operational control and supervision over the IAS. The IG, his deputies. Chief of
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Staff of the IG Staff, and the Directors of the Regional Internal Affairs Service
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shall be appointed by the President. Appointments of other personnel who shall
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occupy various positions shall be made by the IG and shall be based on an
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established career pattern and criteria to be promulgated by the NAPOLCOM.
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SECTION 4. 
The Inspector General Stali. The IG Staff shall be
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headed by the Chief of the IG Staff (CIGS) with a rank of Police Director. For
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purposes carrying out its duties and powers are provided for in this Act, the IAS
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shall have the following Services, namely: Human Resource and Management;
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Intelligence and Investigation; Operations; and Finance and Logistics.
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SEC riON 5. 
The Directors of Regional Internal Affairs Service
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Offices (RIAS). The Directors of the RIAS shall have the rank of Police Chief
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Superintendent. The organizational structure of the RIAS offices shall follow
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closely the pattern of the IAS National Headquarters.
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SEC riON 6.The Provincial and City IAS Offices. The Provincial and
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City Offices of the IAS shall be headed by a Police Senior Superintendent. The
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organizational structure of said offices shall also follow closely the pattern of the
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IAS National Headquarters.
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SECriON 7. Qualification Standards for IAS Personnel - Uniformed
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Personnel. In general, entry into IAS is voluntary and requires high standards of
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integrity, morality, education and training. PNP personnel transferring to IAS,
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except the Inspector General must have at least five (5) more years in the service
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before reaching compulsory retirement, must have satisfactorily completed at
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least a basic investigation and/or intelligence training and have no derogatory
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service records.
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SECTION 8. Qualifications of the Inspector General. In addition to the
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general qualifications for appointment mentioned in R.A. No. 8551, the Inspector
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General of the IAS must be an active duty commissioned officer of the PNP, a
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member of the Philippine Bar in good standing and 
a holder of either a Police
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Executive Service Eligibility (PESE), Career Service Executive Eligibility (CSEE)
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or Career Executive Service Eligibility (CESE).
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SECTION 9. Non-Uniformed Personnel (NUP). The NUP of IAS shall
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be selected from among the very best human resource available, preferably with at
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least a Masters Degree in their fields of training. Lawyers may enter the IAS
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laterally under existing PNP policies.


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SECTION 10. Personnel Strength. The strength of the IAS shall be
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pegged at five percent (5%) of the total strength of the PNP; Provided, That the
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NUPs shall comprise not more than ten percent (10%) of the total IAS strength.
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SECTION II. Prohibitions -Any personnel who joins the IAS may not
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thereafter join any other unit of the PNP. Neither shall any personnel of the IAS be
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allowed to sit in a committee deliberating on the appointment, promotion, or
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assignment of any PNP personnel.
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SECTION 12. Applicability of Sec. 39 of RA 8551 
The IAS shall
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exercise all the powers and functions provided under Section 39 of R.A. No.
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8551, insofar as they are applicable and not in conflict with any provision of this
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Act: Provided, That the IG may direct nio/it propio investigations of all acts and
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omissions of PNP personnel which tend to discredit or tarnish the image of the
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PNP organization.
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SECTION 13. Operational Eiinctioiis of the IAS. The IAS shall, as part
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of its integrity development functions, conduct character building and other
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activities that would enhance its capacity for resisting graft and corruption;
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conduct intelligence operations in aid of life.style checks and investigations; and,
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strengthen investigations of PNP personnel who are subject to its jurisdiction. It
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shall also impose restrictions, file appropriate criminal cases against PNP
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members before the regular courts as evidence warrants and actively assist in the
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prosecution of such cases.
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It shall generally conduct summary proceedings and hearings of PNP
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members facing administrative charges for violation of rules and regulations
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governing the PNP, the Civil Serviee rules and regulations, and such other existing
25 
laws relative to or in connection with, the official duty of a police officer including
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misconduct, dereliction of duty, insubordination, conduct unbecoming of a police
27 
officer, abuse of power or authority, conviction by final judgment for any crime or
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offense and other similar acts and decide such cases; and establish partnerships
29 
and other synergies with the community and other stakeholders. It shall coordinate
30 
efforts to require personnel who have undergone its adjudication processes to
31 
undergo psychological sessions before they are deployed back to the PNP.


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The PNP shall cooperate fully with the IAS in order to accelerate the 
conduct ol its investigation with the view to exonerate innocent officers quickly and 
prosecute the guilty swiftly. Internal affairs investigation shall be completed as 
rapidly as is reasonably necessary which in no case shall exceed thirty (30) days 
after which the appropriate administrative and/or criminal charges shall be tiled 
immediately thereafter. The IAS shall have at most thirty (30) days to resolve the 
administrative case against any erring member of the Philippine National Police.
SIX riON 14. Special Functions of the IAS. The IAS shall file cases 
against any police personnel who shall break the provisions of restrictive custody 
including the custodian of the personnel under restrictive custody and any other 
act and/or omission made by a police personnel detrimental to the image of PNP. 
The IAS shall issue clearances and other requisite documents including 
recommendations for promotion, transfer or appointment to any position, and for 
financial transactions of PNP personnel.
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SIX riON 15. Dcpnti/atioii. The IG may deputize the Directors of the
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PNP Directorates or any of the Regional Directors of the Police Regional Offices
17 
as Inspectors and Auditors of the IAS, subject to the approval of the PNP Chief.
SIXHON16. IAS Infrastrnctnrc and Other Resources, The PNP shall 
provide the infrastructure, camp requirements, technology and other resources of 
the IAS that will enable it to perform its mandated powers and functions: 
Provided, That additional funding requirements may be appropriated under the 
General Appropriations Act.
SFXTION 17. IAS Inspections and Audits. The inspections and audits 
of all PNP units and personnel shall be conducted by IAS pro actively and shall 
form part of the performance evaluation rating of the latter; Provided, That the 
framework of inspections and audit shall be based on existing NAPOLCOM and 
PNP Circulars and approved by the Commission.
SECTION 18. Finality of Decision. The decisions of the IAS in cases 
falling under its jurisdiction shall be final and executory without prejudice, 
however, to the filing of an appeal with the Secretary of the Department of Interior 
and Local Government (DILG) where the penalty imposed upon the erring PNP


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personnel is dismissal, demotion or suspension for a period exceeding ninety (90)
2 
days; or forfeiture of benefits equivalent to more than ninety (90) days pay.
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SECTION 19. IAS Character Studies. At the end of every quarter IAS
4 
shall submit a general observation/assessment of the general character of the PNP
5 
personnel and units to the Chief of the PNP and NAPOLCOM.
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SEC riON 20. Source of Eiiiuls. The appropriation for the Office of the
7 
Internal Affairs Service, including funds for the Occupational Specialty Pay
8 
(OSP), shall be under a specific item in the annual General Appropriations Act
9 
(GAA). This shall include Personnel Services (PS), Maintenance and Other
10 
Operating Expenses (MOOE) and Capital Outlay (CO).
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SEC riON 21. Eiliancial Iiulcpeiulence. In order to strengthen its fiscal
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independence, the Internal Affairs Service shall have an automatic, direct, full and
13 
regular release of funds based on the approved annual general appropriations
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subject to the existing rules, practices and regulations on auditing and accounting
15 
of the Commission on Audit. The IAS shall have a distinct and separate budget
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from the PNP.
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SECTION 22. Disciplinary Mechanism. The IAS shall formulate and
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adopt its own disciplinary rules and mechanisms taking into account pertinent
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laws, rules and regulations on the matter: Provided, That the applicable provisions
20 
of the AFP Military Justice System may also be applied by analogy or in a
21 
suppletory character whenever practical and convenient, in disciplinary cases
22 
against PNP uniformed personnel; Provided, Further, That the applicable
23 
guidelines promulgated by the Civil Serviee Commission shall govern the non-
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unifonned personnel.
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SECnON 23. Separability Clause. If any provision of this Act shall be
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declared invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining part or provisions not otherwise
27 
affected shall remain in force.
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SECriON 
24. 
Repealing Clause. 
Any law, decree, ordinance,
29 
administrative circulars not consistent with any provision of this Act is hereby
30 
amended, repealed or modified accordingly.


1 
SFXTION 25, Effectivity Clause. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15)
2 
days after its complete publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2)
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newspapers of general circulation.
Approved,