INTEGRATION OF THE CITY/MUNICIPAL POLICE FORCES, JAILS AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS WITHIN THE GREATER MANILA AREA

WHEREAS, the fact that the seat of the National Government
is within the Greater Manila Area makes it an important hub of
governmental, economic, commercial, industrial, as well as diplomatic,
tourists and other related but varied activities, which requires the
conglomeration of large number of people, including foreigners;

WHEREAS, the proximity of centers of population, and the
facility of means of transportation, aided by the existence of separate,
independent police forces and facilities whose jurisdictions are
restricted by political/territorial boundaries renders the Greater
Manila Area a virtual haven for criminal elements, who pose a constant
danger to the public safety, peace, order and tranquility of the
inhabitants therein;

WHEREAS, such danger can be prevented, contained and
eliminated only through a system of effective law enforcement unhampered
by political/territorial considerations or the lack of unity and
coordination, not to mention the real or apparent rivalries, conflicts,
jealousies and indifference among the city/municipal police forces
operating in said area; and

WHEREAS, effective law enforcement can be attained only by
integrating into and constituting as one unit the said police forces as
well as the other facilities directly or indirectly connected with
public safety and the maintenance of peace and order, particularly the
city/municipal jails for the reformation/correction of offenders and
fire departments for the prevention of conflagration that cause economic
and social dislocations within the Greater Manila Area, in order that
the same may be cohesively organized, better coordinated and effectively
directed;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, in my capacity as
Commander-in-Chief of all the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and
pursuant to Proclamations No. 1081, dated September 21, 1972, and No.
1104, dated January 17, 1973, and General Order No. 1, dated September
22, 1972, do hereby order and decree, as follows:

SECTION 1. Integration of City/Municipal Police Forces,
jails and Fire Departments in the Greater Manila Area. — All laws to
the contrary notwithstanding, the police forces, jails and fire
departments of the Cities of Manila, Quezon, Caloocan and Pasay; and of
the Municipalities of Las Pirias, Muntinlupa, Parañaque, Makati,
Mandaluyong, San Juan, Marikina, Pasig, Pateros, Taguig, Navotas and
Malabon of the Province of Rizal; and of the Municipality of Valenzuela
of the Province of Bulacan, as they are presently organized and
constituted, are hereby integrated into a unit to be known as
“Metropolitan Police Force,” which shall be headed by the Commanding
General, Philippine Constabulary Metropolitan Command (PC METROCOM).

SEC. 2. Jurisdiction of the Metropolitan Police. —
The Metropolitan Police Force shall be responsible for the public safety
and discharge the functions of the maintenance of peace, law and order
within the territorial limits of the cities and municipalities mentioned
in the preceding Section 1. As such it shall have the power to prevent
crimes, take necessary measures for public safety, effect arrest of
criminal offenders and investigate the commission of all crimes and
offenses therein and bring the offenders to justice.

SEC. 3. Direction and Control Over the
Metropolitan Police Force. — As head of the Metropolitan Police
Force, the Commanding General, PC METROCOM, shall have the power of
direction and control thereof in the discharge of its functions as
herein provided.

SEC. 4. Extent of Direction and Control. — The power
of direction and control herein vested in the Commanding General, PC
METROCOM, shall include the power to direct and control the tactical,
strategic movements, deployments, placements and/or utilization of the
entire Metropolitan Police Force or any of its elements and components,
equipment, facilities and other resources within its territorial
jurisdiction; the training of the members thereof, and such other power
that may be necessary to make operational direction and control real and
effective.

SEC. 5. Power of Administrative Control and Supervision.
— Administrative control and supervision over the several police
forces, jails and lire departments composing the Metropolitan Police
Force shall, prior to the transfer provided for in Section 6 hereof,
remain with the offices, agencies and officials in which said power is
vested in accordance with existing laws: Provided, That such
power shall not be exercised in a manner that will adversely affect the
integrity, capability and operational efficiency of the Metropolitan
Police Force or any of its component elements. Accordingly,
administrative matters such as appointment, promotion, suspension,
separation and other administrative disciplinary action; grant/payment
of salary and/or allowances, compensation, leave and other benefits,
logistical support; and such other matters pertaining to personnel
administration, which are currently vested in and exercised by other
officials pursuant to existing laws, rules and regulations shall remain
with said officials: Provided, That in case of conflict between
the exercise of administrative supervision and control, on one hand, and
operational direction and control, on the other hand, the latter shall
prevail.

SEC. 6. Administrative Supervision and Control to be
Transferred to the Philippine Constabulary. — After one year, hut
not later than two years, from the effectivity of this Decree, the power
of administrative control and supervision provided for in the preceding
Section 5 shall be taken over and exercised by the Philippine
Constabulary. For this purpose, the personnel, records, funds, property,
equipment, facilities and other resources being used by the
Metropolitan Police Force, including firearms, vehicles, communications
and criminal laboratory facilities, if any, shall be transferred to the
administration and custody of the Philippine Constabulary.

SEC. 7. Funding of the Metropolitan Police Force. —
Effective upon the transfer of the power of administrative control and
supervision over the Metropolitan Police Force to the Philippine
Constabulary as herein provided, each city and municipality shall
allocate not less than eighteen per centum (18%) of its annual
budget as its contribution for the maintenance of the Metropolitan
Police Force. The National Government shall provide subsidies and other
types of fund support to insure a minimum standard salary for the
members thereof and provide a modernization of their public safety
equipment/installations in accordance with existing laws and policies or
as may hereafter be provided.

SEC. 8. No Reduction in Salary. This Decree shall be
implemented in such manner that will not result, except for cause
provided by law, in the reduction of salary among the personnel of the
Manila Metropolitan Police Force.

SEC. 9. Chief of Constabulary to Promulgate Rules and
Regulations. —The Chief of Constabulary shall, with the approval of
the Secretary of National Defense, promulgate the necessary rules and
regulations for the effective implementation of this Decree.

SEC. 10. Penal Provision. — Any person who obstructs
or interferes with the implementation of this Decree or of the rules
and regulations promulgated by the Chief of Constabulary in accordance
herewith directly or indirectly shall, upon conviction, suffer
imprisonment of not less than three (3) years nor more than six (6)
years and/or a fine of not less than five thousand pesos, (P5,000), but
not more than ten thousand pesos (P10,000) at the discretion of the
court.

When the offender is a public officer or employee, he may, in
addition, be disqualified from holding public office or employment for
life.

SEC. 11. Repealing Clause. —The provision of
Republic Act No. 4864, otherwise known as the Police Act of 1966, as
amended by Presidential Decrees No. 1, dated September 22, 1972; No. 12,
dated September 24, 1972; No. 12-A, dated October 4, 1972; No. 12-B,
dated October 28, 1972, and No. 170, dated April 4, 1973; the provisions
of the City Charters of the Cities of Manila, Quezon, Caloocan, and
Pasay; the pertinent provisions of the Revised Administrative Code, as
amended, as well as all other provisions of existing laws, rules and
regulations which are inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed or
modified accordingly.

SEC. 12. Effectivity. — This Decree shall take
effect upon approval.

Done in the City of Manila, this 21st day of March, in the
year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and seventy-four.