(Eagle News)– Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Director General Ronald Dela Rosa on Thursday reminded his men to observe the proper procedures when conducting operations, especially in arrests, now that the state of national emergency had been declared.
Dela Rosa explained that the only conditions that allow authorities to conduct warrantless arrests are:
- when the person to be arrested has committed, is actually committing, is attempting to commit an offense in front of arresting officer;
- when an offense has just been committed and the arresting officer has personal knowledge of facts indicating that the person to be arrested committed the offense;
- when the person to be arrested is a prisoner who has escaped from a penal establishment of place where he is serving final judgment or temporarily confined while his case is pending; and
- when the person arrested, or to be arrested, has voluntarily waived his right against warrantless arrest.
“All arrests should be made only on the basis of a valid warrant of arrest issued by a competent authority, except in instances where the law allows warrantless arrest,” Dela Rosa said, mentioning Rule 13 of the Revised Police Operational Procedures.
The notice follows what the Palace issued on the limitations of law enforcement authorities under state of national emergency on account of lawless violence.