TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
S.B. No. 1310
Senate
25 AUG 28 P4;24
RECEIVED BV;
Introduced by SENATOR IMEE R. MARCOS
AN ACT
STRENGTHENING THE INTERNAL AFFAIRS SERVICE (IAS) OF THE 
PHILIPPINE NATIONAL POLICE (PNP), AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE 
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8551, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "PHILIPPINE 
NATIONAL POLICE REFORM AND REORGANIZATION ACT OF 1998", AND
FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Section 5, Article II of the 1987 Constitution provides that, "the maintenance of 
peace and order, the protection of life, liberty and property, and the promotion of 
general welfare are essential for the enjoyment by all the people of the blessings of 
democracy." The Philippine National Police (PNP) with its motto, "to serve and 
protect,” plays a vital role in the government's effort to pursue the said sacred 
mandate. However, the PNP has been marred by accusations of graft and corruption 
and other irregularities, which necessitates a robust internal reform mechanism.
The PNP's internal disciplinary mechanism, which utilizes a combination of 
preventive, punitive, and restorative approaches, has a long-standing "Zero Tolerance 
Policy" on misconduct. This ongoing commitment to address personnel misconduct 
and rehabilitation is evidenced by their data on disciplinary actions. From April 2024 
to April 2025, the PNP reported that a total of 1,288 police officers were dismissed 
from service. Additionally, within the same period, 1,456 cops were suspended and 
172 were demoted for various offenses out of 3,611 resolved cases.
The appointment of PNP officer-in-charge Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. on 
August 26, 2025 re-affirmed the institution's direction. He committed to strengthening 
the force through continuity of reforms, while focusing on crime prevention and 
integrity.
The Internal Affairs Service (IAS) is the mandated institutional watchdog agency 
of the PNP, responsible for disciplining, monitoring, investigating, and adjudicating 
administrative cases of erring PNP personnel. This bill seeks to strengthen the IAS of 
the PNP with emphasis on fiscal autonomy, expanded adjudicatory powers and 
capacity building of its personnel. The proposed amendments will boost the


effectiveness of the IAS to implement a disciplinary mechanism on the PNP towards a 
common vision of maintaining an effective and upright police force.
In view thereof, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
IMEE R. MAR


TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
Senate
(©fficp of ll)f
25 AUG 28 P 4 54
S.B. No.
SENATE
1310
RECEIVED BY:
Introduced by SENATOR IMEE R. MARCOS
AN ACT
STRENGTHENING THE INTERNAL AFFAIRS SERVICE (IAS) OF THE 
PHILIPPINE NATIONAL POLICE (PNP), AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE 
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8551, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "PHILIPPINE 
NATIONAL POLICE REFORM AND REORGANIZATION ACT OF 1998", AND
FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled:
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SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy. - The Philippine National Policy (PNP) plays an
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important role in giving life to the mandate of the state of maintaining peace and order
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and in protecting life, liberty and property. The state recognizes the need to
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strengthen the Internal Affairs Service (IAS) of the PNP to be an effective disciplinary
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mechanism of the police force and preserve its integrity. Towards this end, there is a
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need to introduce reforms in the IAS by formulating and implementing a capacity-
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building program for its personnel, an upgraded recruitment process based on
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competency framework, an expanded adjudicatory powers, and fiscal autonomy.
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Sec. 2. Mandate of the IAS. - The IAS shall be an independent, impartial,
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effective, and efficient institutional guardian of integrity of the PNP. It shall be an
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essential part of the disciplinary mechanism of the PNP and shall be independent in
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all matters concerning the investigation and the discipline of uniformed personnel.
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Sec. 3. Powers and Functions. - The IAS shall have the following powers and
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functions:
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a) Pro-actively conduct inspections and audits on PNP personnel and units;
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b) Investigate complaints and gather evidence in support of an open investigation;
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c) Conduct summary hearings on PNP members facing administrative charges;
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d) Submit a periodic report on the assessment, analysis, and evaluation of the
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character and behavior of PNP personnel and units to the Chief PNP and the
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Commission;


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e) File appropriate criminal cases against PNP members before the court as 
evidence warrants and assist in the prosecution of the case;
f) Conduct intelligence operations in aid of lifestyle checks and investigations;
g) Provide assistance to the Office of the Ombudsman in cases involving the 
personnel of the PNP;
h) Recommend to the Department of Justice (DOJ) for the protection of witnesses 
who are vital to the conduct of investigation and effective prosecution of PNP 
personnel facing administrative or criminal case.
The IAS shall also conduct, motu proprio, automatic investigation of the following 
cases:
a) Incidents where a police personnel discharges a firearm;
b) Incidents where death, serious physical injury, or any violation of human rights 
occurred in the conduct of a police operation;
c) Incidents where evidence was compromise, tampered with, obliterated, or lost 
while in the custody of police personnel;
d) Incidents where a suspect in the custody of the police dies or is seriously 
injured;
e) Incidents where the established rules of engagement have been violated; and
f) All acts and omissions of PNP personnel which tend to discredit or tarnish the 
image of the PNP organization.
Finally, the IAS shall provide documents or recommendations with regard to 
the promotion of the members of the PNP or the assignment of PNP personnel to any 
key position.
Sec. 4. Organization. - The IAS shall have national, regional, and provincial 
offices. The National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) may establish such other offices 
that are deemed necessary upon the recommendation of the Inspector General.
The IAS shall be headed by an Inspector General with a rank equivalent to an 
undersecretary of a Department. He shall be assisted by a Deputy Inspector General 
with rank of Police Lieutenant General.
The head of the IAS shall be a civilian who shall meet the requirements as 
provided herein.
The regional offices shall be headed by a Director with a rank of Police Brigadier 
General, except for the Director of the National Capital Region (NCR) who shall be a 
Police Major General.
The Provincial IAS offices shall be headed by a Police Colonel or a civilian of 
equivalent grade.
Uniformed PNP personnel who joined or transferred to the IAS shall be barred 
thereafter from joining or being appointed to any position in other units of the PNP.


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Sec. 5. Staffing Pattern, Personnel Strength, Logistics and Financiai System. - 
The IAS shall establish a rationalized staffing pattern in accordance with its 
organizational structure.
It shall have a separate recruitment quota for uniformed personnel and non- 
uniformed personnel subject to the approval of the NAPOLCOM.
It shall have an allocation quota from the graduates of the Philippine National 
Police Academy (PNPA).
The authorized strength of IAS shall not exceed five percent (5%) of the total 
strength of the PNP. The non-uniformed allocation shall not exceed forty percent 
(40%) of its strength.
It shall have a separate financial and logistics management and services program 
subject to the approval of the NAPOLCOM.
Sec. 6. Capacity Buiiding and Recruitment - The IAS shall formulate and 
implement a career development program for its personnel to be able to effectively 
carry out its tasks and functions. Such program shall include a test to determine the 
merit and fitness of its personnel to carry out the functions of their respective position.
The IAS shall formulate an upgraded criteria and qualifications based on 
competency framework, subject to the approval of NAPOLCOM, to fill-in available 
positions.
Sec. 7. Optional Retirement - Within one (1) year from the effectivity of this 
Act, personnel of IAS may opt to retire or be separated from service and shall be 
entitled to any of the following applicable incentives:
a) One hundred percent (100%) of the monthly basic salary for every year of 
government service computed starting from the first year for those who have 
rendered one (1) year to less than five (5) years of service;
b) One hundred fifty percent (150%) of the actual monthly basic salary for every 
year of government service computed starting from the first year for those who 
have rendered ten (5) years of service but less than (10) years; or
c) Two (2) months of actual monthly basic salary for every year of government 
service computed starting from first year for those who have rendered ten (10) 
years or more of service.
Personnel who are retired or are separated from the service shall not be reemployed 
in any agency of the National Government, including government-owned or controlled 
corporations (GOCCs) for a period of five (5) years. The retired or separated personnel 
who are re-employed during the prohibited period shall refund, on a pro-rated basis, 
the separation incentives they received under this section.
Sec. 8. Appointments. - The Inspector General shall be appointed by the 
President upon the recommendation of the Director General of the PNP and duly 
endorsed by the NAPOLCOM. Appointments of personnel who shall occupy various
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positions shall be made by the Inspector General and shall be based on criteria and 
qualifications to be promulgated pursuant to Sec. 6 of this Act.
Sec. 9. Term of Office and Qualifications the Inspector General. - The Inspector 
General shall serve for a term of seven (7) years without reappointment or extension.
No person shall be appointed as Inspector General unless he is a citizen of the 
Philippines, a member of the Philippine bar in good standing with at least fifteen (15) 
years in the practice of law and with proven competence and expertise in handling 
administrative or criminal cases, and not an active or retired member of the PNP.
Sec. 10. Entry Qualifications to IAS. - Entry or transfer to the IAS shall be 
voluntary and subject to rigid screening, where only PNP personnel who have at least 
five (5) years' experience in law enforcement, police investigation and intelligence, 
and who have no derogatory service records shall be considered for appointment: 
Provided, That members of the Bar may enter the service laterally.
Sec. 11. Rules of Procedure. - The IAS shall formulate and adopt its own rules 
and procedure in the hearing and resolution of cases filed or pending before it. Subject 
to the requirements of due process, the technicalities of law and procedure and the 
rules obtaining in the courts of law shall not strictly apply thereto.
Sec. 12. Decision of the IAS. - Where the penalty imposed is dismissal, demotion 
or suspension for a period exceeding ninety (90) days, or forfeiture of benefits 
equivalent to more than ninety (90) days' pay, the decision of the IAS, with respect 
to second (2nd) level officers of the PNP, shall be executory after fifteen (15) days 
from receipt of the notice of decision by the respondent, without prejudice to the filing 
of an appeal. Such decision of the IAS as regards first (1st) level officers of the PNP 
shall be executory after fifteen (15) days from the notice of denial of the motion for 
reconsideration by the Office of the Chief PNP, without prejudice to the filing of an 
appeal.
Where the penalty imposed is suspension for a period not exceeding ninety (90) 
days, or forfeiture of benefits not exceeding ninety (90) days' pay, the decision shall 
be final and executory.
Any head of the PNP unit/office who fails to implement the decisions of the IAS, 
within fifteen (15) days from receipt thereof, or who acts with abuse of discretion, 
shall be liable for gross neglect of duty.
Where a PNP member is convicted of a charge imposed with a penalty of 
demotion in rank, he/she shall be ineligible for promotion for a period of three (3) 
years from the effectivity thereof.
Where the penalty imposed is suspension for a period of more than thirty (30) 
days but not exceeding ninety (90) days, he/she shall be ineligible for promotion for 
a period of two (2) years from the effectivity thereof.


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Where the penalty imposed is suspension not exceeding thirty (30) days, he/she 
shall be ineligible for promotion for a period of one (1) year from the effectivity 
thereof.
Sec. 13. Source of Funds. - The appropriations for the Office of the IAS shall be 
presented as a specific item in the budget of the Department of the Interior and Local 
Government (DILG) in the Annual Appropriations Act.
Sec. 14. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within ninety (90) calendar days 
from the effectivity of this Act, the DILG, NAPOLCOM, and the PNP shall jointly 
formulate the rules and regulations necessary for the effective implementation of the 
provisions of this Act.
Sec. 15. Separability Clause. - If, for any reason, any part or provision of this 
Act is held unconstitutional or invalid, other provisions hereof not otherwise affected 
shali remain valid and in full force and effect.
Sec. 16. Repealing Clause. - All laws, executive orders, presidential decrees or 
Issuances, presidential proclamations, letters of instruction, rules and regulations, or 
parts thereof which are contrary to or inconsistent with this provisions of this Act are 
hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly.
Sec. 17. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following 
its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation in the 
Philippines.
Approved,