Philippines: Whether it is common practice for a newly elected mayor to replace members of a city's police force with his/her own people
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 13 March 2003 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | PHL41094.E |
| Reference | 2 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Philippines: Whether it is common practice for a newly elected mayor to replace members of a city's police force with his/her own people, 13 March 2003, PHL41094.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3f7d4dfb1c.html [accessed 5 June 2023] |
| Comments | Corrected version added 16 March 2009. |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
A corrected version of this Response was published on the Refworld site at the request of the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, 16 March 2009
According to Section 455 of the Philippine Local Government Code of 1991, Republic Act No. 7160, a mayor, as the "deputized representative of the National Police Commission, formulates the peace order plan of the city [and] exercises general and operational control and supervision over the local police forces in the city" (Philippines 1991).
In an 18 February 2003 press release, the National Police Commission (Napolcom) states that mayors are authorized to choose the chief of police, recommend new appointments in the police service and transfer or reassign members of the Philippine National Police (ibid. 18 Feb. 2003).
In an article titled "Mayors Getting Back Control Over Police?" on the Website of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines, Ray Roquero writes, "[b]efore when neighborhood policing was the name of the game, mayors hired and fired members of the police force" (ibid. n.d.). However, the author further states that although mayors and governors "have been automatically deputized as Napolcom agents, the police has continued to act like an independent unit, away from the operational supervision and control" of such officials (ibid.). Appointees to the police are "imposed upon the mayors who are left with no other recourse but to accept the designation of his chief of police by force" (ibid.).
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
Philippines. 18 February 2003. National Police Commission. "Napolcom Kicks Off Capability Program for Mayors."
_____. 1991. Local Government Code of 1991, Republic Act No. 7160. (The Philippines Commission on Elections Official Website)
_____. N.d. League of Municipalities of the Philippines. Ray Roquero. "Mayors Getting Back Control Over Police?"
Additional Sources Consulted
IRB Databases
WNC
Internet sites including:
Chan Robles Virtual Law Library
Philippine Journalism Review
Republic Acts
Search engine:
