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Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
Nineteenth Congress 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _____ 
Introduced by Representative Rudys Caesar G. Fariñas I 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This bill seeks to establish a Philippine Legislative Police (PLP) which will 
exercise the primary responsibility of securing the safety of all Members of 
Congress, protecting the properties of both the Senate and the House of 
Representatives, and ensuring that the mandate and authority vested in 
the Members of Congress by the Constitution and its legislative powers remain 
unobstructed. Through the PLP, Congress can enforce and execute its 
contempt powers and issue subpoenas, summonses, and arrest warrants. 
Further, the establishment of PLP creates a safe and secure environment for 
the Members. 
The system of checks and balances fundamentally requires the independence 
of the branches of government, and only through such independence can we 
best achieve the government's ends. 
Currently, Congress relies on the law enforcement agencies under the 
Executive Department to enforce and execute its contempt orders and 
warrants of arrest. For example, in the 17th Congress, the Committee on 
Justice issued an arrest warrant against Ronnie Dayan for his failure to 
appear before the committee conducting a public hearing on the proliferation 
of drug syndicates at the New Bilibid Prison. The Philippine National Police 
(PNP) personnel made the arrest mainly because the House of Representatives 
does not have an enforcement body equipped and authorized to carry out its 
contempt and arrest orders. 
The PNP and other law enforcement agencies are under the control and 
supervision of the Executive Department. As such, Congress is helpless to do 
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anything if the PNP and other law enforcement agencies, which Congress has 
commissioned to enforce and execute its orders, are negligent of their assigned 
duties. 
The reliance of Congress on the law enforcement agencies of the Executive 
Department in the protection of its members and the enforcement and 
execution of its powers impair, to a large extent, the independence of Congress 
from the Executive Department. 
The Members of the Senate and the House of Representatives perform work 
and functions not only on the premises of their respective Session Halls or 
offices. Attending various meetings and looking after their constituents are 
indispensable to their duties. Inherent to their functions as legislators and 
politicians are the threats to their lives. And again, Congress does not have 
enough workforce and capability to provide security to its members in 
performing outside duties, it relies on the law enforcement agencies of the 
Executive Department. 
The bill further proposes that officers will have the same qualifications, 
salaries and benefits, retirement age, and equivalent rank as the Philippine 
National Police (PNP) members. However, their functions will be limited to 
providing safety and security to every Member of Congress and the 
enforcement and execution of the orders of Congress in the exercise of its 
powers. 
This measure is a refiled bill from House Bill No. 6208 authored by former 
Representative Rodolfo C. Farinas in the 17th Congress. 
RUDYS CAESAR G. FARIÑAS I 


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Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
Nineteenth Congress 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _____ 
Introduced by Representative Rudys Caesar G. Fariñas I 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING THE PHILIPPINE LEGISLATIVE POLICE (PLP) AND 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the 
Philippines in Congress assembled: 
SEC. 1 Short Title. - This Act may be cited as the "Philippine Legislative 
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Police Act." 
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SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the 
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State to ensure the independence of the Legislative, Executive, and Judicial 
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Departments of the government to promote efficiency and to enable them 
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to perform their respective constitutional mandates. Toward this end, an 
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independent and organized police force under the control and supervision 
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of the Congress of the Philippines is necessary to secure the performance 
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of the Legislature of its constitutionally mandated duty to make laws that 
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effectively respond to the needs of our people. 
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The police force shall be organized, trained, and equipped primarily for the 
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protection and security of Members of the Congress of the Philippines and 
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its officers, employees, visitors, and properties. No elements of the police 
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force shall be in the military, nor shall any position thereof be occupied by 
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an active member of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the 
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Philippine National Police (PNP). 
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SEC. 3. Philippine Legislative Police (PLP). -There is hereby established 
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a Philippine Legislative Police (PLP) under the control and supervision of 
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the Congress of the Philippines. The PLP shall be primarily responsible for 
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the protection of the Members and properties of both the House of 
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Representatives and the Senate. 
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The Offices of the Sergeant-at-Arms, as provided by the Rules of the House 
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of Representatives and the Rules of the Senate, shall continue to be headed 
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by their respective Sergeant-at-Arms who shall oversee the daily operations 
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of the PLP. 
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SEC. 4. Powers and Functions. - The PLP shall exercise the following 
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duties and functions: 
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(a) Secure the safety of all Members of Congress, their spouses, and 
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relatives, up to the second degree of consanguinity, upon determination 
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and validation that their lives are threatened; 
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(b) Protect the properties of Congress and ensure the safety of its 
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employees, visitors, and other persons who are on the premises of 
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Congress; 
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(c) Maintain peace and order and conduct patrol duties, communications, 
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intelligence gathering, and access control systems on the premises of 
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Congress; 
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(d) Coordinate with other law enforcement agencies to maximize collection 
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and sharing of intelligence information for purposes of identifying threats 
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to Congress or any of its Members, their spouses, and relatives up to the 
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second degree of consanguinity; 
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(e) Prevent crimes, effect the arrest of criminal offenders, investigate the 
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commission of all crimes and offenses committed within the jurisdiction of 
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Congress, and assist in the prosecution thereof; 
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(f) Coordinate the issuance of licenses for the possession of, and permits to 
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carry, firearms to Members of Congress, the PLP personnel, and the 
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Secretariat employees of both Houses of Congress, as well as the 
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congressional staff of incumbent Members of Congress; 
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(g) Serve subpoenas and warrants that Congress may issue; 
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(h) Purchase firearms, ammunitions, and other equipment necessary for 
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the performance of its function; 
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(i) Issue Mission Orders and Memorandum of Receipt to provide its 
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personnel with firearms, ammunitions, and other equipment; and 
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(j) Perform and exercise all other powers and functions necessary to 
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implement the provisions of this Act. 
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SEC. 5. Philippine Legislative Police (PLP) Board. - The PLP shall be 
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governed by the Philippine Legislative Police Board, hereinafter referred to 
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as the Board, composed of the Chairperson of the Committee on Public 
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Order and Safety of the House of Representatives, the Chairperson of the 
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Public Order and Dangerous Drugs of the Senate of the Philippines, the 
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Sergeant-at-Arms of the House of Representatives, the Sergeant-at-Arms of 
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the Senate, and a retired General of the AFP or Chief Superintendent of the 
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Philippine National Police who shall act as Chairman and appointed jointly 
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by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and Senate President. The 
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Chairman shall serve for a term of three (3) years with reappointment. The 
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members of the Board shall hold office until their successors are duly 
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elected or appointed. 
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The Board shall exercise the following: 
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(a) Selection, appointment, and promotion of personnel; 
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(b) Deployment, placement. and utilization of the PLP or any of its units 
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and personnel; 
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(c) Resolution of any complaint filed against its officers and exercise of 
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disciplinary powers, including the imposition of penalties; 
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(d) Establishment of an effective performance system; and 
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(e) Issuance of policies and instructions regarding personnel, funds, 
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properties, records, correspondences, and such other matters as may be 
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necessary to effectively carry out the functions, powers, and duties of the 
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PLP. 
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The exercise of powers of the Board is subject to the review and approval 
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of the Speaker on the part of the House of Representatives and the Senate 
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President on the part of the Senate of the Philippines. The Board may hold 
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regular meetings in either of the offices of the Sergeant-of-Arms of the 
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House and Senate and special meetings in any place in Metro Manila. 
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Expenses for the special meetings are subject to existing budgeting, 
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accounting, and auditing rules and regulations. 
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SEC. 6. Organizational Structure and Staffing Pattern. - Within six (6) 
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months from the convening of the Board, the organizational structure and 
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staffing pattern of the PLP shall be formulated and finalized for the joint 
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approval of the Speaker of the House and Senate President. The PLP shall 
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comprise two (2) key units, the Operations, and Administrative Bureaus, 
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which shall be headed by the Chief for Operations and the Chief 
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Administrative Officer, respectively: 
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 A.  PLP Operations Bureau 
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 The following services shall be under the Operations Bureau: 
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(1) Operational Service, which is responsible for the operational needs of 
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the PLP, shall include specialty units such as command center, 
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communications, crisis and emergency unit, patrol and mobile unit, and 
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canine unit. 
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(2) Protective Service, which is responsible for collecting and analyzing 
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information to produce intelligence, assessing threats, identifying and 
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mitigating risks, and protecting Members of Congress, shall include 
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specialty units such as investigation, intelligence analysis, and dignitary 
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protection. 
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(3) Security Service, which is responsible for the planning, design, and 
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execution of security measures on the premises of both Houses of 
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Congress. 
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B. PLP Administrative Bureau 
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The following services shall be under the Administrative Bureau: 
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(1)  Financial Management Service, which is responsible for all 
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the financial activity of the PLP, shall include accounting, budget, 
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and procurement divisions. 
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(2)  Human Resource Service,  which is responsible for developing, 
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implementing, and administering human resource programs and services, 
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including recruitment, compensation and benefits, employee relations, 
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training and development, and compliance with labor and employment 
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laws. 
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(3)  Information Systems Service, which is responsible for the planning, 
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budgeting, designing, and applying various technologies in support of the 
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PLP operations, such as providing automated information, networking, 
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telecom, and wireless communications. 
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SEC. 
7. Rank 
of 
Officers. - 
For 
purposes 
of 
efficient 
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administration, supervision, and control, the PLP shall have the following 
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rank classification: 
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Legislative Chief Superintendent 
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Legislative Senior Superintendent 
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Legislative Superintendent 
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Legislative Chief Inspector 
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Legislative Senior Inspector 
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Legislative Inspector 
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Legislative Senior Police Officer IV 
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Legislative Senior Police Officer III 
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Legislative Senior Police Officer II 
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Legislative Senior Police Officer I 
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Legislative Police Officer III 
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Legislative Police Officer II 
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Legislative Police Officer I 
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The Board shall use this classification to prepare the officers' staffing 
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pattern and prescribe the number of officers in each rank. In addition, the 
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Board may refer to the existing ranks of the uniformed personnel of other 
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departments. 
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SEC. 8. Qualification and Examination. - No person shall be appointed 
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office of the PLP unless the applicant possesses the following minimum 
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qualifications: 
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(a) A citizen of the Philippines; 
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(b)A person of good moral conduct;  
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(c) Must have passed the psychiatric or psychological, drug, and physical 
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tests to be administered by the PLP accredited government hospitals to 
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determine physical and mental health; 
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(d) Must possess a formal baccalaureate degree from a recognized 
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institution of learning; 
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(e) Must be eligible in accordance with the standards set by the Board; 
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(f) Must not have been dishonorably discharged from military employment 
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or dismissed for cause from any civilian position in the government; 
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(g) Must not have been convicted by final judgment of an offense or crime 
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involving moral turpitude; 
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(h) Must be at least one meter and sixty-two centimeters ( l.62m) in height 
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for males and one meter and fifty-seven centimeters (1.57m) for females; 
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(i) Must weigh not more than or less five kilograms (5 kgs.) from 
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the standard weight corresponding to the height, age, and sex; and 
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(j) A new applicant must not be less than twenty-one (21) years of age nor 
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more than twenty-nine (29) years of age for females and thirty-two (32) 
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years of age for males. 
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Except for item (j) above, these qualifications shall continue in character, 
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and an absence of any one of them at any given time shall be ground for 
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separation or retirement from the service. 
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To determine compliance with the requirements on physical and mental 
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health, as well as the non-use of prohibited drugs, the PLP, through an 
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accredited government hospital, shall conduct regular psychiatric, 
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psychological drug, and physical tests randomly and without prior notice. 
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Likewise, no officer may be appointed without passing the qualifying 
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entrance examinations that the PLP shall administer based on the 
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standards set by the Board. 
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SEC. 9. Training and Education. - The officers of the PLP shall undergo 
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continuous training and education to ensure that they maintain and 
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improve their skills and inform themselves of up-to-date knowledge and 
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information on security. 
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The officers of the PLP shall undergo training and education in the 
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Philippine Public Safety College or other equivalent institutions. In 
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addition, the Congress of the Philippines may establish its training and 
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education support unit for the benefit of the PLP. 
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SEC. 10. Promotion. - To be eligible for promotion, an officer of the PLP 
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shall comply with the following requirements: 
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(a) Pass the corresponding promotional examination given by the Board; 
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(b)Complete an appropriate and accredited training course designed by the 
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Board; 
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(c) Pass the psychiatric or psychological and drug tests; and 
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(d) Present certification of no pending administrative or criminal case. 
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Special or meritorious promotion may be extended to any officer for acts of 
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conspicuous courage and gallantry at the risk of the officer's life above and 
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beyond the call of duty upon prior validation by the Board based on 
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established criteria. 
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SEC. 11. Salaries and Benefits. - The officers and employees shall 
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receive the existing salaries, benefits, and other allowances authorized for 
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corresponding salary grades provided under existing civil service laws, 
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rules, and regulations. They shall also be entitled to other benefits and 
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allowances that secretariat employees of the House of Representatives and 
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the Senate may receive subject to the joint approval of the Speaker of the 
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House and the Senate President.  
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SEC. 12. Retirement. - Any officer attaining fifty-six (56) years shall be 
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compulsorily retired. However, upon accumulation of twenty-five (25) years 
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of satisfactory service, any officer may apply for early retirement subject to 
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the approval of the Board. 
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Upon compulsory retirement, an officer is entitled to retirement benefits 
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computed one grade higher than the position last held. 
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The retirement age provided in this section applies only to new entrants. 
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Existing personnel who qualifies to be an officer shall be compulsorily 
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retired after attaining six-five (65) years of age. However, such personnel 
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may retire after attaining fifty-six (56) years of age and is entitled to 
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additional gratuity provided by existing law, rules, and regulations on 
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retirement. 
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SEC. 13. Death and Disability. - The officer or the heirs are entitled to all 
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benefits relative to the death or permanent incapacity of the officer under 
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existing laws. In addition, an officer who accumulated at least twenty (20) 
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years of service which incurs total permanent disability in the line of duty 
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is compulsorily retired and is entitled to a separation pay equivalent to one 
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and one-half (1½) basic salary for every year of service computed on the 
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current salary grade. A fraction of six (6) months shall be considered one 
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(1) whole year. 
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SEC. 14. Administrative Complaint  and  
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Disciplinary Action. - Any administrative complaint and disciplinary 
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action filed against any officer shall be heard, decided, and implemented in 
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accordance with the rules of procedure that the Board shall establish. The 
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administrative penalties that the Board may impose corresponding to the 
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ActAct or omission of the officer include withholding privileges, forfeiture of 
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salary, suspension, or any combination thereof, for a period not exceeding 
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one hundred (180) days. 
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SEC. 15. Summary Dismissal Power of the Board. - The Board, after due 
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notice and hearing, may immediately remove or dismiss any officer in the 
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following cases: 
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(a) When the charge involves moral turpitude and the evidence of guilt is 
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strong; 
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(b) When the officer has been repeatedly charged, and there are reasonable 
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grounds to believe that the officer is guilty of the charges, and  
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(c) When the officer is guilty of a serious offense involving conduct 
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unbecoming of an officer. 
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Any officer who shall go on absence without leave (AWOL) for a continuous 
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period of thirty (30) days or more shall be dismissed immediately from the 
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service. 
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SEC. 16. Legal Assistance. - The Office of the Legal Affairs of the House 
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of Representatives and the Office of Legal Counsel of the Senate shall 
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provide legal assistance to any officer of PLP who is charged in any court 
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or competent body arising from any incident related to the performance of 
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official duty. 
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SEC. 17. Transitory Provision. - All personnel, properties, equipment, 
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functions, and responsibilities of the Offices of the Sergeant-at-Arms as 
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provided by the Rules of the House of Representatives and the Rules of the 
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Senate, as well as their legislative security bureaus, are hereby transferred 
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to the PLP. 
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All regular or permanent employees transferred to the PLP shall not suffer 
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any loss of seniority nor diminution of benefits and shall undergo six (6) 
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months of socio-civic police training, which includes one hundred (100) 
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hours of theoretical and practical exercise on constitutional and human 
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rights and other relevant training necessary to their new function. In 
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addition, the Board shall identify who among the regular employees may 
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be appointed officer of the PLP. The appointed officers shall then be 
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deployed and remain in their present assignments. 
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Any employee who may not be accommodated in the new position structure 
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and staffing pattern shall be given preference to join any office of Congress 
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or allowed to retire under existing laws, rules, and regulations. Any 
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employee who opts to retire is entitled to an additional gratuity equivalent 
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to three (3) months' basic salary for every year of service. A fraction of six 
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(6) months shall be considered one (1) whole year. 
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SEC. 18.   Appropriation. - The amount necessary for the initial 
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implementation of the ActAct shall be sourced from the current 
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appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate. Thereafter, 
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such sums as may be necessary for the continued implementation of this 
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Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act. 
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SEC. 19. Reportorial Requirements. -  
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The Board shall submit to the Speaker of the House and Senate President 
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an annual report of the operations of the PLP. Likewise, within fifteen (15) 
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days before the final adjournment of each Congress, the Board shall submit 
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a summary report on the review of the organizational structure and staffing 
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pattern, which includes a recommendation on the viability of the abolition 
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or creation of services. 
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SEC. 20. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within ninety (90) 
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days from the approval of this Act, the Board shall promulgate the rules 
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and regulations implementing the provision of this Act. The implementing 
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rules and regulations issued pursuant to this section shall take effect thirty 
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(30) days after publication in two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
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SEC. 21. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared 
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unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act or any provision not affected 
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thereby shall remain in full force and effect. 
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SEC. 22. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
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publication in the Official Gazette or a newspaper of general circulation. 
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Approved, 
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