PNP Highway Checkpoints on Roads to Ports

It is issued pursuant to NAPOLCOM’s constitutional mandate to administer and control the Philippine National Police.

To direct the PNP Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG) to establish checkpoints on roads leading to all ports in the Philippines to contain the movement/shipping in and out of carnapped motor vehicles and related used/secondhand parts and to help apprehend persons involved in such illegal activities.

The PNP Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG) is the OPR, coordinating with (1) the local police units with territorial jurisdiction where the ports are located and (2) the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA).

Police presence/police visibility is an accepted deterrent to crime; uniformed police patrolling gives peace of mind for freedom of movement and discourages malefactors.

They must greet people subject for inspection, ask apology for inconvenience, appeal for understanding and state the reasons for cooperation; after the search, give gratitude/appreciation.

They must be expeditiously disposed of pursuant to the procedures in the rules; arrests must be as enunciated in the “Miranda Doctrine.”

Operating units should be divided into two teams: a searching team and a security team.

Only the security team may display high-powered firearms, positioned where it can best provide security to the group including themselves.

PNP operating units must provide their own logistical and financial requirements to avoid soliciting support from civilians for their personal or operational needs.

Such offers must be absolutely refused because they might be misconstrued as bribes.

They should be limited to visual search; neither the vehicle nor the occupants should be subjected to physical search or required to alight from the vehicle.

Only if the officers have probable cause to believe they would find evidence pertaining to the commission of a crime in the vehicle, and there is no sufficient time to secure a valid warrant, such that passengers need not be required to alight to effect the search.

The team leader must immediately contact adjacent units to inform them and conduct dragnet operations, while those at the checkpoint pursue the errant fleeing motorist.

Warning shots are not allowed. Megaphones or police sirens should be used instead during the pursuit.

Reasonable force may be employed to overcome the suspects’ aggression.

The checkpoint area must be properly lighted and legible, and clear signs must be exhibited to show that searches are being conducted.

They must be in proper prescribed uniform with identification cards and nameplates on; in Metro Manila and other major cities, they should not wear battle dress uniforms or black fatigues in lieu of PNP GOA unless the checkpoint is a result of a hot pursuit operation.

They shall be dealt with accordingly under existing rules and regulations.

It takes effect fifteen (15) days from date of publication in a newspaper of general circulation, with a copy filed with the UP Law Center, in consonance with the Administrative Code of 1987.