NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
S.B. No. 182??
of tlj? ^
23 JAN 31 P4:23
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"
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Article II, Section 5 of the Constitution provides that the maintenance of peace 
and order, the protection of life, liberty, and property, and the promotion of the 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 efforts to pursue the said sacred mandate.
However, the PNP has been marred by accusations of graft and corruption and 
other irregularities. As of January 2, 2023, over 2,600 cops have faced sanctions, 
including suspension and dismissal from service, due to administrative cases as a direct 
result of violations of PNP rules and regulations, or involvement in criminal activities. 
Said delinquent cops have been found guilty of such offenses as going absent without 
leave, drug use, failure to attend court duty, violence against women, and involvement 
in criminal cases for murder, homicide, carnapping, illegal drugs, robbery, extortion and 
rape.
In a January 2023 televised briefing, PNP Public Information Office Chief Colonel 
Redrico Maranan announced that in 2023, the PNP expects that its personnel would be 
more disciplined as the agency strengthens its disciplinary machinery. The Internal 
Affairs Service (IAS) is the mandated institutional watchdog agency of the PNP. It is 
the institution which disciplines, monitors, investigates and adjudicates administrative 
cases of erring PNP personnel.
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This bill seeks to strengthen the Internal Affairs Service 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.
:/l.
/tkEE R. MARCOS


of tijr s I
NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
S.B. No. 1822-
23 JAN 31 P4 23
RECEIVED BY:
Introduced by SENATOR IMEE R. MARCOS
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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"
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled:
Section. 1. Declaration of Policy. - The Philippine National Police (PNP) plays 
an important role in giving life to the mandate of the state of maintaining peace and 
order and in protecting life, liberty and property. The state recognizes the need to 
strengthen the Internal Affairs Service of the PNP to be an effective disciplinary 
mechanism of the police force and preserve its integrity. Towards this end, there is a 
need to introduce reforms in the Internal Affairs Service by formulating and 
implementing a capacity-building program for its personnel, an upgraded recruitment 
process based on competency framework, an expanded adjudicatory powers, and 
fiscal autonomy.
Sec. 2. Mandate of the Internal Affairs Service (IAS). - The IAS shall be an 
independent, impartial, effective and efficient institutional guardian of integrity of the 
PNP. It shall be an essential part of the disciplinary mechanism of the PNP and shall 
be independent in all matters concerning the investigation and the discipline of 
uniformed personnel.
Sec. 3. Powers and Functions. 
functions:
The IAS shall have the following powers and
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;
c) Conduct summary hearings on PNP members facing administrative charges;
d) Submit a periodic report on the assessment, analysis, and evaluation of the 
character and behavior of PNP personnel and units to the Chief PNP and the 
Commission;
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 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 compromised, 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; and
e) Incidents where the established rules of engagement have been violated;
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.


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The Internal Affairs Service 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 Internal Affairs Service 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 who shall be a Police 
Major General.
The provincial internal affairs service offices shall be headed by a police colonel 
or a civilian of equivalent grade.
Uniformed PNP personnel who joined or transferred to the internal affairs 
service shall be barred thereafter from joining or being appointed to any position in 
other units of the PNP.
Sec. 5. StafTmg Pattern, Personnel Strength, Logistics and Financial 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 Building and Recruitment. - The Internal Affairs Service 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


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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 five (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 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 National Police Commission. Appointments of personnel who shall 
occupy various positions shall be made by the Inspector General and shall be based 
on criteria and qualifications to be promulgated pursuant to section 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)


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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 Internal Affairs 
Service 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 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 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.


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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.
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 Internal 
Affairs Service shall be presented as a specific item in the budget of the Department 
of the Interior and Local Government in the Annual Appropriations Act.
Sec. 14. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Department of Interior 
and Local Government (DILG), National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM), and the 
Philippine National Police (PNP) shall jointly formulate the necessary rules and 
regulations within ninety (90) days from approval of this Act, for its effective 
implementation.
Sec. 15. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is held invalid, the 
other provisions not affected shall remain in full force and effect.
Sec. 16. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees or rules inconsistent with this 
Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
Sec. 17. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation in the 
Philippines.
Approved,