Title
PNP Policy on Salute Guidelines and Conduct
Law
Pnp Memorandum Circular No. 2011-028
Decision Date
Dec 30, 2011
The revised policy on salute establishes clear guidelines for PNP personnel on the proper execution of military courtesy, emphasizing respect and synchronization with the Armed Forces of the Philippines during various formal occasions and interactions.
salute
police courtesy
administrative law

Legal references and cited frameworks

  • The Circular directs observance of the PNP Manual on Drills, Ceremonies and Protocol & Social Usage, including established protocol for salutes and honors.
  • The Circular cites the PNP Ethical Doctrine.
  • The Circular references PNP Related Laws and Standing Memorandum Circulars.
  • The Circular revises the earlier Memorandum Circular No. 2006-015 on PNP as Policy on Salute.
  • For discipline and procedure, the Circular requires application of the Rules of Procedures in NAPOLCOM Circular No. 2007-001 to reported erring individual Police Officer.

Policy rationale and purpose

  • The Circular recognizes salute as the most important form of military and police courtesy.
  • Salute is executed by raising the right hand smartly until the tip of the forefinger touches the right eyebrow or the front brim of the headgear when covered, with fingers extended and joined, palm facing the left forearm inclined at an angle of about 45 degrees, and the right upper arm horizontal.
  • The person saluting must look at the person saluted, and when the salute is returned, he drops the right hand smartly to the side.
  • The Circular states that properly practiced salutes develop respect and courtesy among members and bind cooperation and unity toward a common goal.
  • The Circular’s stated purpose is to provide clear guidelines to all PNP personnel on how and when to render the salute.

Definitions for key terms used

  • “Salute” means a formal gesture of recognition, friendship, and respect accorded to persons of superior rank or station, forming part of military protocol; the basic salute is the hand salute (raising the hand to the forehead or visor).
  • “Indoor” covers offices, theaters, hallways, kitchens, orderly rooms, recreation halls, washrooms, and quarters.
  • “Outdoor” covers spaces outside offices or buildings, including drill halls, gymnasiums, roofed enclosures for drill exercise, grandstands, covered walks, and other shelters open on the sides.
  • “Inside Camp” refers to spaces and facilities inside the fenced perimeter of a police or military camp.
  • “Outside Camp” refers to any place outside the fenced perimeter of a police or military camp.
  • “Reveille” is the ceremony honoring the national flag as it is hoisted in the morning.
  • “Uniform” refers to the prescribed PNP attire (including the PNP Athletic Uniform) recommended by the Uniforms Equipment Specification Board (UESB), approved by the Chief, PNP, and attested by the NAPOLCOM.
  • “Honors” refers to ceremonies rendered to local/foreign military/police officers and civilian dignitaries as courtesy and a tribute to rank and/or position.
  • “PCO” means all Police Commissioner Officers of the PNP with the rank of Inspector to Director General.
  • “PNCO” refers to all Police Non-Commissioner Officers of the PNP with the rank of PO1 to SPO4.

When to salute: rules by setting and rank

  • Outdoors: PCO to PCO
    • A lower ranking PCO must immediately execute hand salute while looking at the higher ranking PCO when both PCOs of different ranks are wearing the prescribed PNP uniform and meet each other within a distance of one (1) to ten (10) meters.
    • If the lower ranking PCO carries a rifle on the shoulder, the lower ranking PCO must hold the sling in the upper sling swivel portion with the left hand and execute the hand salute.
    • If the rifle has no sling, the lower ranking PCO must execute left shoulder arm and execute salute by bringing up the right hand across the body perpendicular touching the breech of the rifle with an arm extended joined.
    • If in stationary position, the lower ranking PCO may come to order arm by slightly raising the rifle from one (1) to three (3) inches, then execute salute by bringing the left hand across the body at the level of the upper sling swivel.
  • Outdoors: both wearing prescribed PNP uniform
    • When lower ranking officers (PCO and PNCO) and higher ranking PCO meet for official and non-official business, salute rules apply while wearing the prescribed PNP uniform or military uniforms used by AF, BJMP, BFP, and PCG counterparts.
  • Outdoors: higher ranking PCO in prescribed uniform; lower in civilian attire
    • A lower ranking PCO in civilian attire must salute a higher ranking PCO wearing prescribed PNP uniform (or AF, PCG, BJMP, BFP counterparts’ military uniform) only when reporting directly to him/her.
    • If security of the lower ranking PCO is compromised, the usual greeting of good morning or good afternoon is adequate, followed by a short introduction and statement of purpose of reporting.
  • Outdoors: moving or walking encounters
    • A lower ranking PCO in civilian attire who meets a higher ranking PCO in prescribed uniform while walking or moving alone or with an organized group as in formation must render salute as appropriate in stationary condition using the same rules.
    • A lower ranking PCO and a higher ranking PCO both in civilian attire must render salute as appropriate when the former personally knows the latter.
  • Outdoors: equal ranks
    • When PCOs are of equal rank, the PCO who personally knows the other and recognizes the other as occupying a higher position in the PNP hierarchy must render appropriate salute whether the other is in prescribed uniform or not.
    • If the person is not sure, the word “asira” may suffice for showing respect.
  • Outdoors: multiple PCO/PNCO in a group
    • When two or more PCOs/PNCOs jointly walk and meet a senior/junior PCO/PNCO, the most senior must render salute, and the most senior must acknowledge or return the salute.
    • When two or more PCOs/PNCOs separately walk and meet a senior/junior, they must individually render salute, and the most senior must acknowledge or return; if the latter is not well organized, they must individually acknowledge or return the salute as they recognized them.
  • Outdoors: PNCO to PCO
    • A PNCO must render appropriate salute to all PCOs wearing the prescribed PNP uniform when meeting outdoors at a recognizable distance of approximately one (1) to ten (10) meters.
    • PCOs in civilian attire assigned with intelligence units of the PNP are exempted.
  • Outdoors: PNCO to PNCO
    • A PNCO generally does not salute another PNCO except when in formation, including when joining ranks requires saluting the PNCO standing as squad or platoon leader in charge of the accounting of personnel under him or as part of the ceremony.
  • When in formation
    • When a PNP member wants to join formation, he must salute his immediate supervisor (squad leader or platoon leader) and tell the supervisor the intention to join.
    • When a PNP member wants to leave formation, he must salute his immediate supervisor (squad leader or platoon leader) and tell the supervisor the intention to leave.
    • During inspection of ranks, only the most senior officer in a group must render salute to approaching, passing, and visiting higher ranking officer wearing the prescribed PNP uniform.
    • During pass-in-review, the reviewing officer must acknowledge the salute up to Platoon Leader.
  • National Anthem: indoor and outdoor
    • When the national anthem is played or sung, all PNP members must stand at attention and face the Philippine Flag if displayed; otherwise, they must face the band, the conductor, or the source of music.
    • At the first note, uniformed PNP personnel in prescribed uniform must render the prescribed salute, while non-uniformed personnel and uniformed personnel not wearing prescribed uniform must stand at attention and place the right palm over the left chest.
    • The salute must be completed and dropped on the last note of the anthem.
    • PCOs and PNCOs must render salute when the national anthem is played during indoor and outdoor command activities, including ceremonies and programs.
  • Hoisting of national flag
    • All PNP uniformed personnel in prescribed uniform must face the national flag and render salute during hoisting, lowering, and during reveille ceremony.
    • During reveille, if the national flag is within view or eyesight, PNP members in prescribed uniform must face the national flag; if not, they must face the source of the music and render salute on the first note of “To the Colors” played by band or bugler.
    • The salute must be completed on the last note of the music.
  • Respect to other uniformed service
    • PNP saluting practices extend to friendly units in the uniformed service, including the AFP, Philippine Coast Guard, BJMP, BFP and the like.
    • PNP personnel must salute other members of the uniformed service who are more ranking than them.
  • Wreath laying
    • PNP personnel wearing the prescribed PNP uniform must render salute during wreath laying ceremonies after volley fire while taps is being played by the bugler.
  • Honors (special elements and timing)
    • During side honors during the pass by of the honoree and the police host, honor guard must render salute until the honoree and police host passes the last element.
    • PNP members in prescribed uniform must render salute immediately after the Honor Company executes salute and while taps is being played.
    • During arrival honors, honor to the nation, presentation and honors, and honoring awardees, all PNP members present wearing prescribed uniform must render salute on the first note of the march and drop it on the last note of the march.
    • During arrival honors, when the honoree, honor guard commander, and police host inspect or troops the line, they must render salute to the colors six (6) paces before passing by the national flag and drop salute after two (2) paces.
    • During pass-in-review, when colors and national flag pass by the grandstand, the audience must stand at attention; all PNP uniformed personnel in prescribed uniform must render salute and drop it when appropriate.
  • Burial honors
    • PNP personnel in prescribed uniform must render salute during burial rites after volley fire while taps is being played by the bugler.

When not to salute: mandatory non-salute cases

  • Outdoors: when in formation
    • Salute is not rendered during the whole ceremonies, except during:
      • accounting of personnel where key officers render salute while reporting;
      • singing or playing of the national anthem where everybody renders appropriate salute;
      • officer as center where all PNP PCOs in formation render appropriate salute;
      • honoring the awardees where appropriate salute is rendered by all participants in formation; and
      • pass-in-review where every PNP personnel renders appropriate salute.
  • Outdoors: when working
    • While at work, salute is not rendered except when a superior officer calls for a police officer working; the police officer must stop work, approach, salute, and salute is rendered again when they part from each other.
    • Salute is not rendered when carrying articles with both hands and saluting is impractical.
  • Outdoors: other activities
    • Salute is not rendered when riding in a fast-moving vehicle and the other officer is dismounted.
    • The exceptions for this vehicle rule apply when the vehicle is clearly marked to indicate a general officer and when saluting is part of the ceremony.
    • Salute is not rendered when meeting a prisoner of war where the PNP member serves as police/military prisoners are not entitled to a salute.
    • Salute is not rendered when the person or officer is engaged, assembled for recreation, or entertainment.
    • Salute is not rendered in public places where it is obviously inappropriate, including theaters, restaurants, and public conveyance.
    • When there is doubt due to absence of specific instructions, the salute is rendered.
  • Indoors
    • A lower ranking officer does not salute a higher ranking officer while both are indoors even when both wear the prescribed PNP uniforms, except when the former is reporting, called by a superior officer to inquire, and/or on duty as a sentinel or guard.
  • Outside camp
    • If both lower ranking PCO and higher ranking PCO are not wearing the prescribed PNP uniforms or the uniforms of AF, PCG, BJMP, BFP and the like counterparts, salute is not rendered.
    • A higher ranking PCO wearing civilian attire is not required to return the salute from lower ranking PNP personnel wearing prescribed PNP uniforms.
    • A lower ranking officer/PCO in either prescribed uniform or civilian attire does not salute a higher ranking officer in civilian attire even if the former does business with the latter; greeting good morning or good afternoon is adequate proof of courtesy and respect.

Persons entitled to salute and honors

  • All PNP Police Commissioned Officers (PCOs) are entitled to salute, including:
    • Director General a C, PNP (4 star rank);
    • Deputy Director General a DCA, DCO and TCDS (3 star rank);
    • Police Director a D-Staff, RD, NCRPO, D, SAF, D, CSG and D, CIDG (2 star rank);
    • Chief Superintendent—Directors NSUs and Ex-O of D-Staff, RD, PROs except NCRPO (1 star rank);
    • Senior Superintendent;
    • Superintendent;
    • Chief Inspector;
    • Senior Inspector; and
    • Inspector.
  • Selected commissioned officers entitled to salute and honors include:
    • Chief, PNP;
    • Deputy Director General;
    • Director;
    • Regional Director; and
    • Chief Superintendent.
  • Civilian dignitaries entitled to salute and honors include:
    • President;
    • Former President;
    • Chief Magistrate of a sovereign (or foreign country) Head of State;
    • Members of the Regional Royalty Family;
    • Head of Government;
    • Vice-President;
    • Senate President;
    • Speaker of the House;
    • Chief Justice;
    • SILG;
    • Department/Cabinet Secretaries;
    • Foreign Ambassadors;
    • Undersecretary of DILG;
    • Inspector General, PNP Internal Affairs Service;
    • Foreign Envoys and Ministries accredited to the Philippines; and
    • Vice Consul or Consular Agents accredited to the Philippines.
  • PNP members may extend salute to other personalities not included in the listed categories as a sign of courtesy and respect.
  • The Circular requires PNP members to preferably use other methods of showing esteem or reverence, including shaking of hands, using po or opo, and using asira and amaaama when addressing persons, as commonly recognized and accepted means for maintaining cordial relations.

Administrative disposition and sanctions

  • Reported erring individual Police Officer cases must follow the Rules of Procedures in NAPOLCOM Circular No. 2007-001 under the discipline framework for administrative cases.
  • Failure to render salute constitutes Slight or Simple Misconduct under Section 2 of Rule 22 of NAPOLCOM Memorandum Circular No. 2007-001 titled “Guidelines in the Application of Penalties in Police Administrative Cases.”
  • The imposable administrative penalties for failure to render salute are:
    • Withholding of privileges or restriction to specified limits or suspension or forfeiture of salary, or any combination thereof for one (1) day to ten (10) days (minimum period);
    • Withholding of privileges or restriction to specified limits or suspension or forfeiture of salary, or any combination thereof for eleven (11) days to twenty (20) days (medium period);
    • Withholding of privileges or restriction to specified limits or suspension or forfeiture of salary, or any combination thereof for twenty one (21) days to thirty (30) days (maximum period).

Amendment, inconsistency rule, and effectivity

  • All rules, regulations, and other issuances, or portions thereof, inconsistent with PNP Memorandum Circular No. 2011-028 are amended and modified accordingly.
  • The Circular takes effect fifteen (15) days after publication.

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