POLICE CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS Defnition o Terms Terms CUSTOMS have obtained
established usage of social practices carried on by tradition that the force of law.
TRADITION
bodies of beliefs, stories, customs and usages handed down from generation with the eect of unwritten law.
COURTESY others.
a manifestation or expression of consideration and respect of
CEREMONY a formal act or a set of formal acts established by customs or authority as propriety to special occasion.
Customs o the Service Customs of the service are the long-established practices or usages in the Philippine National Police (PNP that have been, by reason of constant and repeated observance, ac!uired the character of unwritten norms of conduct. "ost of the customs and the traditions in the PNP are embodied in regulations while precedents remain as the minimum accepted practices in the police service.
The Ocers Co!e Oci"# St"tements$ # police o$cer%s o$cial statement, whether written or unwritten, is accepted without reservation. reservation. "a&ing false o$cial statements &nowingly is not only contrary to police ethics but also punishable under existing penal laws.
Res%onsi&i#ities$ 't is a police o$cer%s duty to prepare himself professionally for higher responsibilities. he ran& of a police o$cer carries with it commensurate responsibilities. )hen an o$cer accepts his commissionship, it is also his duty to prepare himself for higher responsibilities.
T"ct "n! 'orsi(ht$ # police o$cer must not only be discreet in the exercise of his duties but must also be prepared to perform his tas& s&illfully under all circumstance.
Person"# A%%e"r"nces$ # Police Commissioned *$cer (PC* must at all times appear neat and clean. Nothing destroys the respect and con+dence of subordinates than the shabbiness of their superiors.
PCO)PNCO Re#"tionshi%$ 't is an o$cer%s concern to improve his organiation. e must be able to exercise good leadership. he common saying, familiarity breeds contempt” is is particularly true in PC*-PNC* relationship.
*e#"re o the Po#ice Personne#$ he welfare welfare of the police personnel personnel should should be the paramount paramount concern concern of the police o$cer.
The Privi#e(es o "n Ocer +, Police personnel are re!uired to extent unfailing obedience and loyalty to senior PC* and PNC*. *bedience should be shown with respect and courtesy. -, # senior PC* is normally addressed by the use of the word /ir0 by PNC*s and N1Ps. 2or example3 sir, a messenger wants to see you ,. 4/ir, do you wish to attend the conference tomorrow50, 6es /ir.0 7. # senior police police o$cer is accorded accorded the the place of honor honor.. 'n wal&ing or or riding, a 8unior sits, sits, wal& or rides rides at the left left or behind the the senior o$cer o$cer.. 9. Courtesy demands demands that that an o$cer use use polite words in a well-modulated tone to convey an order. he use of phrases, ' wish0 or ' desire0 parta&es of the full force of a direct order. :. # police o$cer en8oys the reputation reputation of being a good creditor creditor.. e is expected expected to set all accounts promptly. Po#ice Customs on Courtes/ he following following are the customs customs on courtesy courtesy in the PNP3 PNP3
A, S"#u "#ute ;. S"#utin( to " Person 0 is the usual greeting rendered by and to the uniformed uniformed members upon meeting and recogniing the person entitled to a salute. <. S"#utin( to " N"tion"# Co#ors "n! St"n!"r!s 0 the courtesy rendered to national colors and standards as one passes by them when raised or lowered.
M"nner o S"#utin($
he members of the the PNP and those those belonging to to the military and and semimilitary organiations in uniform should adopt the military-police salute provided in the regulations. he civilian, if if and when outdoors, outdoors, should should stand attention attention and place place their right hands over their hearts, and if wearing a hat, should uncover and hold the hat over the heart. Complete silence should be observed and no person should be allowed to wal& around while the ceremony is going on.
1, A!!res A!!ress2 s2Tit Tit#e #e$$ A!!ressin(2Tit#in( 0 the 8unior in ran&s addresses the senior members who are entitled to salute with the word /ir0 or "am0. #ll PC*s shall be addressed addressed /ir0 or "am0 by the PNC*s and N1P/. C, Courte Courtes/ s/ C"##s$ C"##s$ he following following are the customs customs on courtesy courtesy calls3
Courtes/ C"## o Ne3#/)Assi(ne!2A%%ointe! Mem&ers 0 the PNP members who are newly-appointed or assigned in a unit or Command, call on the Chief of the 1nit or Command and
other &ey personnel, as a matter of courtesy, as well as for accounting. Christm"s C"##) the PNP members pay a Christmas call on their local executives in their respective areas of responsibility. Promotion C"##) the newly-promoted PNP members call their 1nit ead. *n this occasion, they are usually given due recognition and congratulations by their peers. E4it C"##) the PNP members pay an exit call to their superiors in the 1nit or Command when relieved or reassigned out of the said 1nit or Command. Courtes/ o the Post) the ost 1nit extends hospitality to the visiting personnel personnel who pay respect to the Command or 1nit. R"n5)h"s)Its)O3n)Privi#e R"n5)h"s)Its)O3n)Privi#e(es (es 6R7IP8) the PNP members recognie recognie the practice that dierent ran&s carry with them corresponding privileges.
Po#ice Customs on Ceremonies A, The N"tio N"tion"# n"# '#"( '#"( ;. he National National 2lag shall shall be displayed displayed in all public public o$ce buildings, buildings, o$cial residences, and public s!uares, and shall be hoisted at sunrise and lowered at sundown. 't should be on the mast at the pea& of the day, should remain =ying throughout the day, but shall not stay =ying after the sun has actually set, except when specially prescribed. he =ag sta must be straight, tapering slightly and gently at the end.
1, Cere Ceremo moni nies es +, '#"()R '#"()R"i "isin sin( ( Ceremon/ Ceremon/ he PNP members honor honor the =ag by by hoisting it and singing the National #nthem before the start of the o$cial day%s wor&. -, '#"()L '#"()Lo3e o3erin rin( ( Cerem Ceremon/ on/ #t the end of the o$cial day%s wor&, the PNP members pause for a moment to salute the lowering of the 2lag. 9, 7"# 7"#)M )M"s "stt he =ag is raised raised at half-mast half-mast in deference deference to the deceased deceased uniform uniform members of the Command. :, 'uner" 'uner"## Service Services s "n! "n! 7onors 7onors he departed uniformed uniformed members, members, retirees, retirees, war veterans veterans or former former PC>'NP members are given vigil, necrological services and graveside honors as a gesture of farewell. ;, Ceremon/ Ceremon/ Ten! Ten!ere! ere! to Retire Retirees es 'n recognition of their long, faithful and honorable service to the PNP, a testimonial activity shall be tendered in their honor. <, 7ono 7onor r Cere Ceremo mon/ n/ #rrival and ?eparture honor ceremonies are rendered to visiting dignitaries, @'Ps, PNP o$cers with the ran& of Chief /uperintendent /uperintendent and above, the #2P o$cers of e!uivalent ran&, unless waived. =, Turnove urnover r Ceremon Ceremon/ / he relin!uishment relin!uishment and and assumption of Command or &ey &ey position is is publicly announced in a urnover Ceremony by the outgoing and incoming o$cers in the presence of the immediate superior or his representative. he outgoing Commander>?irector should not leave his post without proper turnover. his includes turnover of properties>e!uipment, human and material resources. >, *e!! *e!!in( in( Cerem Ceremon/ on/ ?uring the marriage of the PNP members, a ceremony is conducted with participants in uniform and swords drawn. ?, Anni Annive vers rs"r "r/ /
he birth or institutional institutional establishment establishment of a Command or 1nit is commemorated in an #nniversary Ceremony.
1,
The N"tion"# Anthem ;. he National National #nthem #nthem should not be played except except on on public public acts of o$cial or semi-o$cial character or in formal civic ceremonies. People in the immediate vicinity, if outdoors, should face the band, uncover, stand at attention and salute. <. )henever )henever a band band is present present the the lowering lowering of the 2lag, 2lag, the Nation National al #nthem should be played by the band. he 2lag should be lowered slowly in such a manner that termination of the lowering coincides with the last note of the music. #nyone present should face the 2lag, stand at attention and salute. 'f the National #nthem is played indoors, everyone should stand at attention and face the band. 7. he Nationa Nationall #nthem #nthem should should not be be played or or sung for for mere mere recreations amusement or entertainment purposes in social gathering purely private in nature or at political or partisan meetings or places of hilarious or vicious amusement. 't should however, be sung in schools so that children may &now it by heart.
Other Po#ice Customs ;. @ISITIN T7E SICB) the immediate Commander or other available o$cers of the 1nit shall visit the PNP members who are sic& in the hospital, residence residence or any place of con+nement in order that their needs are attended to. <. SUR@IRORS ASSISTANCE TO 7EIRS O' DECEASED MEM1ERS) a survivor o$cer is designated whenever a PNP member dies, to render maximum assistance to his>her bereaved family until a bene+t due shall have been received. 9, @ISITIN @ISITIN T7E T7E RELIIO RELIIOUS US LEADERS LEADERS)) the PNP o$cers visit the religious leaders in their areas of assignment to establish or maintain rapport and cooperation between the dierent religious leaders and the PNP. :, AT7LE T7LETI TICS CS)) the PNP members indulge in physical +tness activities to insure that the proper physical appearance and bearing will be maintained. he waistline measurement measurement shall always be smaller than the sie of chest and conforms with the standards set by the PNP. ;, 7APP 7APPY Y 7OUR 7OURS) S) this is usually conducted during 2riday or any other day suitable for the occasion when the PNP members gather together at the PNP club for a light-hearted 8esting or airing of minor gripes.
Po#ice Tr"!itions he following following are police police traditions3 traditions3 ;. SPIRITUAL 1ELIE'S 0 the PNP members are traditionally religious and Aodloving persons. hey attend religious services together with the members of their families. <. @"#or) as attested by history, the 2ilipino law enforcers have exempli+ed the tradition of valor in defending the country from aggression and oppression and in protecting>preserving the life and property of the people. hey sacri+ce their limbs and lives for the sa&e of their countrymen whom they have pledged to serve. 7. PATRIOTISM) the PNP members are traditionally patriotic by nature. hey manifest their love of country with a pledge of allegiance to the =ag and vow to defend the Constitution. Constitution. 9. DECIPLINE) the discipline of PNP members is manifested by instinctive obedience to lawful orders through a spontaneous actions towards the attainment of organiational goals guided by moral, ethical and legal norms.
:. ENTLEMANLINESS) the PNP members are upright in character, gentle in manner, digni+ed in appearance and sincere in their concern to fellowmen. B. *ORD O' 7ONOR) the PNP members% word is their bond. hey stand by it and commit to uphold it. . DUTY) the PNP members have historically exempli+ed exempli+ed themselves as dedicated public servants who perform their tas& with deep sense of responsibility and self-sacri+ce they shall readily accept assignments anywhere in the country. D. LOYALTY) the PNP members are traditionally traditionally loyal to the organiation, organiation, country and people as borne by history and practice. E. CAMARADERIE) the binding spirit that enhances teamwor& and cooperation in the police organiation, extending extending to the people they serve and is manifested by the PNP members% deep commitment and concern for one another.
