Filipino Agencies
Intelligence services of the Philippines are maintained
through four agencies;
National Bureau of Investigation of the Department of Justice (DOJ)
National Counter-Terrorism Action Group
National Intelligence Coordinating Agency
Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency
| National Bureau of Investigation |
| The National Bureau of Investigation
(NBI) (Filipino: Pambansang Kawanihan ng Pagsisiyasat) (PKP), is an agency
of the Philippine government under the Department of Justice, responsible
for handling or solving sensational cases that are in the interest of the
nation. The NBI is a government entity that is civilian in character, and national in scope which is under the Department of Justice. It is headed by a director and with an assistant director and six (6) deputy-directors for—Special Investigation Services (SIS); Regional Operations Services (ROS); Intelligence Services (IS); Technical Services (TS); Administrative Services (AS); and Comptroller Services (CS). The Intelligence Service (formerly known as the Domestic Intelligence Services; Domestic Intelligence Division; Intelligence Section) is the security service arm of the Bureau which undertakes internal security operations against terrorist elements and large organized crime groups who are identified as threats to the State as well as undertake internal security operations and investigation on suspected corrupt government officials or persons deemed or identified as a security threat. It is also mandated to undertake and supervise the security training and education of government, police and military personnel (upon their agency request)on matters relating to intelligence and security and when call upon, conduct security survey and risk assessment of government (and at times, private) infrastructures classified as critical in nature. IS-NBI operational divisions from time to time are called on by the Bureau management to assist the Special Investigative Services (SIS) in the solution of a number of the high profile-complex crime cases handled by the Bureau during the past several years. With the assumption of retired Police General, Atty. MAGTANGGOL B. GATDULA as Bureau Director, the entire Manila based Bureau services underwent streamlining in order to make the NBI more effective and efficient in terms of the utilization of manpower and resources in the fight against elements of organized crime and terrorism. The following operational divisions of the Intelligence Service-NBI were retained: Counter Terrorism Division (CTD)- formerly the Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU) renamed as per Administrative Order 16, Series of 2010 Counter Intelligence Division (CID) Criminal Intelligence Division (CRID) Research and Analysis Division (RAD) Technical Intelligence Division (TID) In accordance with Administrative Order No. 11, Series of 2010, the following IS divisions were abolish and there respective functions (as well as some of their personnel, equipment and materiel etc) transferred to the Counter Intelligence Division, namely: Background Investigation Division (BID) Field Operations Division (FOD) Intelligence Special Operations Division (ISOD) The Security Management Division (SMD) formerly assigned with the IS was transferred to the Administrative Services (AS) in accordance with Administrative Order No. 7, series of 2010. The Reaction, Arrest & Interdiction Division (RAID) was transferred to the Special Investigative Services (SIS) in accordance with Administrative Order No. 13, series of 2010. A number of experienced operatives from the three disbanded intelligence divisions are to be distributed to two newly created divisions namely the Death Investigation Division (DID) and Environmental Welfare and Protection Investigation Division (EWPID) both of which are under the supervision of the Special Investigation Service (SIS) under Deputy Director RICKSON CHIONG. Still, a number of these same operatives expressed their desire to remain in the Intelligence Service and have requested for reassignment with the Counter Terrorism and Criminal Intelligence Division. During the past several years, the IS have actively engaged in a number of high-profile anti-crime operations specifically targeting high risk individuals or crime groups. IS operatives however are trained and condition to observe the NBI Rules of Engagement (ROE) wherein priority is given to bringing the malefactor (preferably) alive to face the bar of justice. However, if a legitimate law enforcement operation is carried out by the IS-NBI and is met by some form of hostile, violent or deadly resistance from the targeted criminal subject(s), IS operatives are trained to utilize appropriate amount or corresponding use of force in accordance with the existing NBI ROE. Such were the case when IS and NBI-CEVRO operatives served the Warrants of Arrest against the late ALVIN FLORES et al. in their beach resort hide out in Campostela, Cebu island and in assisting operatives of the (now disbanded) Special Action Unit (SAU) in serving the Warrant of Arrest against crime suspect JASON IVLER. At present, select operatives of the IS-NBI are on detached service with the Task Force Judiciary Protection (TFJP) specifically created to undertake the protection, risk assessment, investigation and security training of members of the Judiciary that are: 1. Assigned to high risk areas; 2. Received death threats in connection with high risk or heinous crime cases filed in their respective courts; 3. Actual victims/survivor of violent action intended to kill, maim or wound them; 4. Assigned to courts which have been the subject or has experienced violent attacks against one of its members, clients or visitors; IS operatives working closely with the Philippine Judicial Academy (PHILJA) have help train not less than three hundred(300) judges from the 1st and 2nd level courts originating from the various regions of the country on matters relating to Personal Security Awareness. IS operatives assigned with the TFJP also undertakes overt and covert security inspections of Hall of Justices in various parts of the country in order to gather data for an ideal security protocol for the lower courts. This assignment is undertaken with the guidance and supervision of the Committee on Security of the Supreme Court formerly chaired by Chief Justice (retired), Hon. REYNATO PUNO, but now under the helm of CHIEF JUSTICE RENATO CORONA. The Intelligence Service is also currently entrusted with securing the persons of a number of High Profile Subjects (HPS) mostly state witnesses believed to be High Risk Targets, as well as some High Valued Prisoners (HVP) most recent of which in the person of DATU UNSAY MAYOR ANDAL AMPATUAN, JR. who was secured by IS operatives 24 hours a day/7 days a week for more than one hundred days at the NBI Detention Building before his transfer to the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) Detention Center in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City. IS operatives (mostly from the Counter Terrorism Division) were tasked to help secure the Department of Justice premises in Padre Faura, Ermita, Manila where the hearings of the Incident Investigation and Review Committee (IIRC) regarding the Manila Bus Hostage Crisis were being held as well as provide field security for the IIRC members during their inspection tour of the Quirino Grandstand at the Luneta and the Hong Thai bus currently being secured at a warehouse in Camp Bagong Diwa, Bicutan, Taguig. Recently IS operatives (mainly from the CTD and RAD)accompanied NBI Director MAGTANGGOL B. GATDULA in securing the person of long wanted Filipino fugitive ROLANDO FAJARDO, regarded as the Philippines Most Wanted Kidnap-For-Ransom-Group leader who illicitly fled the country sometime between 2001-2002 too Italy. FAJARDO is currently under guard at an undisclosed hospital and resting prior to his transfer to a more secure environment as he awaits arraignment for trial in a court of law. The IS-NBI also maintains close working relationship with its domestic counterparts and at times undertake coordinated security operations against terrorist elements with augmented manpower complements from these units |
| Department of Justice |
| The Department of Justice (Filipino:
Kagawaran ng Katarungan), abbreviated as DOJ, is the executive department of
the Philippine government responsible for upholding the rule of law in the
Philippines. It is currently under the leadership of Former Commission on
Human Rights Chief, Secretary Leila De Lima. The Department of Justice was
founded on September 26, 1898 under the Philippine Revolutionary Government
of Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo. A year later, the American Military Force
established the office of "The Attorney of the Supreme Court" in place of
the department. This new office was renamed "The Office of the Attorney
General" after the Americans put up a civilian government on June 11, 1901.
On September 1, 1901, the office became the Department of Finance and
Justice. In the 1916 government reorganization, the Department of Justice
became a separate entity and was given executive supervision over all courts
of first instance and other inferior courts. The Department continued to
function as such under the Philippine Commonwealth in 1935. When Manila was
overran by the Japanese invaders in 1942, the Department of Justice was
transformed into a commission. Under the civilian government established by
the Japanese in 1943, it became a ministry. In 1945, the government of the
Philippine Commonwealth was reestablished and some government offices were
reactivated, among them, the Department of Justice. The Department was
carried over under the Philippine Republic established on July 4, 1946. With
the adoption of the 1973 Constitution and after the declaration of Martial
Law, the Department again became a ministry. In the same year,
administrative supervision over all courts was transferred from the ministry
to the Supreme Court. The ministry continued to function after the 1986 EDSA
Revolution and the adoption of the Freedom Constitution. The 1987
Constitution reestablished the Department of Justice. The Department has the following attached agencies: Bureau of Immigration National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Parole and Probation Administration (PPA) Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) Public Attorney's Office (PAO) Land Registration Authority (LRA) Office of the Government Corporate Counsel (OGCC) Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) |
| National Counter-Terrorism Action Group |
| The National Counter-Terrorism Action Group (NCTAG) (Filipino: Pambansang Lupon ng Pagsasagawa Laban sa Terorismo) (PLPLT) was formed on November 27, 2007, with its existence announced to the public on November 29, 2007. It is an anti-terrorist body under the Philippine Anti-Terrorism Council. After its formation on November 27, 2007, and the announcement of its establishment on November 29, 2007, the group was trained by the RP-UK Crisis Management Assistance Program, in cooperation with the British Embassy. The training programme was shown to the public in January 2008. Former Philippine National Police chief, Arturo Lomibao, was appointed as the group's first chief officer. The NACTAG held its first anti-terrorist exercises at the Light Railway Transit-2 station in Cubao and at the Metro Rail Transit North Avenue Station to prepare authorities for future terrorist attacks after a bombing was reported at Iligan City. The mandate of the NACTAG is to be "involved in the actual investigation, in case of a terrorist attack, and in providing prosecutors with “enough evidence and witnesses so that the cases will stand in court in accordance with Republic Act (RA) 9372" or the Human Security Act." The NACTAG's manpower, as well as funding, would come from the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police, National Bureau of Investigation, Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine Immigration, and the Anti-Money Laundering Council.[ |
| National Intelligence Coordinating Agency |
| The National Intelligence
Coordinating Agency (NICA) (Filipino: Pambansang Sangay para sa Pagsasamang
Kaalaman) (PSPK) is the primary intelligence gathering and analysis arm of
the Philippine government, in charge of carrying out overt, covert, and
clandestine intelligence programs. Its motto is: Ang Karunungan ay
Kaligtasan (translated: "Knowledge is Security"). Presently, NICA is in close coordination with the CIA, Mossad, Secret Intelligence Service and intelligence services of ASEAN countries to counter the threat of terrorism. The agency is led by a Director-General and is assisted by a Deputy Director-General. The former reports directly to the President. Its present headquarters are located in Quezon City. The NICA has a National Intelligence Board that serves as an advisory board to the Director-General before he would submit his findings to the President relating to national security matters affecting the Philippines. Founded in 1949, it was created by President Elpidio Quirino under the authority of Executive Order 235 with further powers relating to intelligence work added by a commission of the Government Survey and Reorganization Commission in 1954. It was abolished on September 16, 1972 by President Ferdinand Marcos under Presidential Decree 51 and replaced by the National Intelligence and Security Authority (NISA) headed by General Fabian Ver. The agency was primarily used to track down and eliminate anti-Marcos opponents before President Marcos was forced into exile. During his reign, it was one of main government organizations accused of human rights abuses. After the 1st EDSA Revolution, it was renamed the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency in 1987, replacing the NISA and was merged with the Civil Intelligence and Security Agency when the Philippine Constitution was revamped, where it refocused its priorities in tackling the communist movement. Their work has resulted in their weakening in the late '90s. In 1990, the Philippine's National Security Advisor was given responsibility to oversee management and control of the agency as to be responsive to the needs of the president and the National Security Council.
Executive Order Number 492, issued on February 1,
2006, orders the NICA to activate the National Maritime Aerial
Reconnaissance and Surveillance Center or NMARSC. The NMARSC shall serve as
the primary IMINT provider for the Philippine intelligence community. Under
the supervision and oversight of the National Security Adviser, the NICA-directed
NMARSC will operate unmanned aerial vehicles or UAVs to cater to the imagery
intelligence demands of various government agencies. |
| Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency |
| The Philippine Drug Enforcement
Agency (PDEA) (Filipino: Kawanihan ng Pilipinas Laban sa Droga) is the lead
anti-drugs law enforcement agency, responsible for preventing, investigating
and combating any dangerous drugs, controlled precursors and essential
chemicals within the Philippines. The agency is tasked with the enforcement
of the penal and regulatory provisions of Republic Act No. 9165, otherwise
known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. PDEA is under the supervision of the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB), which in turn, is under the supervision of the Office of the President. For thirty years, the Republic Act No. 6425, or the Dangerous Drugs Act of 1972, had been the backbone of the drug law enforcement system in the Philippines. Despite the efforts of various law enforcement agencies mandated to implement the law, the drug problem alarmingly escalated. The high profitability of the illegal drug trade, compounded by the then existing laws that imposed relatively light penalties to offenders, greatly contributed to the gravity of the problem. Recognizing the need to further strengthen existing laws governing Philippine drug law enforcement system, the then Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed the Republic Act No. 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, on June 7, 2002 and it took effect on July 4, 2002. The Republic Act No. 9165 defines more concrete courses of action for the national anti-drug campaign and imposes heavier penalties to offenders. The enactment of Republic Act 9165 reorganized the Philippine drug law enforcement system. While the Dangerous Drugs Board remains as the policy-making and strategy-formulating body in planning and formulation of policies and program on drug control and prevention, it created the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency under the Office of the President. The new law also abolished the National Drug Law Enforcement and Prevention Coordinating Center; and the Narcotics Group of Philippine National Police (PNP-NG), Narcotics Division of National Bureau of Investigation (NBI-ND), and the Customs Narcotics Interdiction Unit of the Bureau of Customs (BOC-CNIU). However, these law enforcement agencies have organized the following anti-illegal drugs task force to support the PDEA: Philippine National Police - Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operation Task Force (PNP-AIDSOTF); National Bureau of Investigation - Anti-Illegal Drugs Task Force (NBI-AIDTF); and Bureau of Customs - Customs Task Group/Force in Dangerous Drugs and Controlled Chemicals (BOC-CTGFDDCC). National OfficePDEA is headed by a Director General (DG) with the Cabinet rank of Undersecretary, who is responsible for the general administration and management of the agency. The Director General is assisted by two Deputies Director General with the rank of Assistant Secretary: one for Administration (DDGA) and the other one for Operations (DDGO). The office of the Director General is also supported by the Secretary for Directorial Staff, Chief of Public Information Office (PIO), Chief of Information Technology Systems Management Office (ITSMO) and Chief of Complaints and Reaction Unit (CRU). The Director General of the PDEA shall be responsible for the necessary changes in the organizational set-up which shall be submitted to the DDB for approval. The PDEA have the following National Services headed by Directors, namely: Administrative and Human Resource Service (AHRS) Financial Management Service (FMS) Logistics Management Service (LMS) Internal Affairs Service (IAS) Intelligence and Investigation Service (IIS) Plans and Operations Service (POS) Legal and Prosecution Service (LPS) Compliance Service (CS) International Cooperation and Foreign Affairs Service (ICFAS) Special Enforcement Service (SES) Preventive Education and Community Involvement Service (PECIS) Laboratory Service (LS) PDEA maintains its own PDEA Academy temporarily located at Camp General Mariano N. Castañeda in Silang, Cavite. The PDEA Academy is headed by a Superintendent, with the rank of Director. It is responsible in the recruitment and training of all PDEA Agents and Personnel. The DDB provide for the qualifications and requirements of its recruits who must be at least twenty-one (21) years old, of proven integrity and honesty, a Baccalaureate degree holder and with Career Service Professional Eligibility from Civil Service Commission (CSC) or Board License from Professional Regulation Commission (PRC). PDEA Agents are issued with a Norinco Pistols upon successful completion of their training at the PDEA Academy while the superior officers are issued with a Glock Pistols in .45 caliber ammunition. The PDEA Agents use M4 Carbine as their assault riffle in urban warfare and special operations. To maximize the capability of the anti-drug operatives in the country, PDEA acquired CTAR 21 Tavor which fires the standard NATO caliber 5.56 mm ammunition. |