QuestionsQuestions (Act No. 175)
It is established under the general supervision of the Civil Governor to better maintain peace, law, and order in the various provinces of the Philippine islands.
They command, discipline, and direct the Insular Constabulary, and inspect the municipal police of municipalities.
It must not be less than 15 privates, 1 sergeant, and 1 corporal, and not more than 150 privates, 4 sergeants, and 8 corporals per province.
They are selected from residents of that province, and enlistment is governed by the number set by the Chief of the Insular Constabulary (with the approval of the Civil Governor).
They are enlisted for two years unless sooner discharged.
The Civil Governor appoints the incumbent, by and with the consent of the Commission.
He has general charge and control; ensures suppression/prevention of brigandage, insurrection, unlawful assemblies, breaches of peace, and arrests of offenders; appoints provincial inspectors (1 to 4 per province); may suspend and after due hearing remove members for inefficiency, misconduct, or disloyalty; fills vacancies; and makes rules for examinations and selection/promotion.
Assistant Chiefs report to and are under the general supervision/direction of the Insular Chief, but subject thereto they perform the duties of the Insular Chief in their respective districts.
The Insular Chief divides provinces into four districts as nearly equal in population and size as may be, assigns an Assistant Chief to each, and may change district limits and reassign Assistant Chiefs as public interests require.
The Assistant Insular Chief highest in rank available.
The Insular Chief prescribes arms/uniforms/equipment, reports actions/cost to the Commission through the Civil Governor for appropriation; guns/revolvers/ammunition are purchased by the Insular Purchasing Agent on the order of the Chief, and then distributed to provinces/municipalities as needed.
A manual of discipline and a code of rules defining lawful powers and duties of provincial and municipal police, translated into Spanish, Tagalog, Visayan, Ilocano, and Bicol, and circulated among police.
When he deems it necessary due to lawlessness or opposition against properly constituted authorities; consolidation is not permanent and cannot last longer than the immediate exigency.
Insular Constabulary may make arrests upon reasonable suspicion without warrant for breaches of the peace or other law violations; when arrest is made without warrant, the officer must obtain a warrant from competent authority at the earliest practicable moment; prisoners must be brought before a judge/justice within 24 hours if reasonably practicable for examination and release after bail if bailable.
When in pursuit of criminals, a provincial inspector may continue the pursuit beyond the borders of the province where he has ordinary jurisdiction and arrest the offenders.
They cannot interfere in any way with elections; resident members entitled to vote may vote, but must not take part as election officers, solicit votes, or be candidates. Violation is ground for removal.
Any Insular Police officer/member who obtains money/property for own use from any person by threats of arrest or actual/intended prosecution commits a crime punishable by imprisonment of not less than one year and not more than ten years.