Civil Disorder, States of Emergency and Armed Conflicts

I. PLAN TO KEEP THE DEMONSTRATION IN ORDER

PRE-EVENT PLANNING

● All police officers to be deployed should undergo a briefing to learn the necessary
information about the upcoming demonstration. This also includes their duties and
responsibilities, their do’s and don’ts. This also involves understanding other intelligence
reports regarding the extremist groups that have been reported. This is to assure the
readiness of our troops in maintaining peace and order during the demonstration.
● Formal meetings with all stakeholders who can provide support and who will be affected
by the demonstration will also be requested. This will be done to inform the public about
the inconveniences that might be brought by the event; including
○ Local leaders (e.g the Mayor, barangay officials)
○ Private Sector
○ Public transportation personnel
○ Medical facilities and personnel (First-aid tents, ambulances etc)
● Establish a media strategy for managing media representatives, maintaining community
contact and disseminating information;
● Determine command and control;
○ Appoint operational and tactical commanders to avoid confusion among
deployed officers
○ Review the circumstances in which command and control transfer to another
level (from a low to high level of strictness)
○ Review the rules of engagement for a hostile response, i.e., rules of conduct,
force options, level of authorization required, levels of force to be engaged, etc.
● Outline crime investigation protocols;
○ Determine how the department will respond to the investigation of event-related
crimes
○ Familiarize appropriate personnel with unique aspects of arrest to individuals
causing disorder ;
● Ensure adequate specialized training of police officers before the event
 ○ Arrange for adequate administrative/ support personnel for stepped-up
operational activities (communications, transportation, booking, records,
detention)
○ Identify and confer with other city/county/ state agencies that can contribute to
pre-event planning for logistical support;
A. Bureau of Fire Protection
B. Ambulance / Medical Assistance
C. Sanitation
D. Prosecutor
E. Regional/Municipal Trial Court
F. Legal affairs
G. Bureau of Jail Management and Penology / Bureau of Corrections
● Support police operations;
○ Set up logistical support for officers (nutrition, water, replacement uniform
articles, weapons and ammunition, other weaponry and force alternatives, mass
arrest supplies, spare vehicles and fuel, property/evidence control)
○ Arrange for other equipment (barriers, fencing, containment alternatives)
○ Arrange for heavy equipment and operators, and vehicle removal/towing
capability
● There will be a list of prohibited acts all officers must avoid;
1. It shall be prohibited for a police officer to commit the following acts during peaceful
assembly: Obstructing, impeding, disrupting or otherwise denying the exercise of the
right to peaceful assembly;
2. The unnecessary firing of firearms to disperse the public assembly;
3. Acts described hereunder if committed within one hundred (100) meters from the area of
activity of the public assembly;
● The carrying of a deadly or offensive weapon or device such as firearm,
pillbox, bomb, and the like;
● The carrying of a bladed weapon;
● The malicious burning of any object in the streets or thoroughfares;
● The carrying of firearms by CDM contingents;
● The interfering with or intentionally disturbing the holding of a public
assembly by the use of a motor vehicle, its horns and loud sound
systems;
 ● The drinking of liquor or alcoholic beverages; and
● Gambling of any kind.

POST-OPERATION ACTIVITIES

The department’s use-of-force reporting criteria must be followed during mass demonstration
events. It may not be reasonable to expect an officer to abandon ongoing, front-line, operational
tasks to complete a use-of-force report; however, after-action reports should include
1. A detailed account of why force was necessary;
2. The type of force used;
3. The tools utilized;
4. Whom the force was directed against;
5. The resultant response of the crowd or individual;
6. Any arrests;
7. Any injuries observed (to officers, demonstrators or bystanders);
8. Communications (internal and external)— transmitted and recorded; and
9. Risk management systems activated where needed.

These details are important in preparing post-demonstration reports, developing lessons

learned and defending the agency against any allegations of police misconduct. The
documentation can be either written or recorded via a handheld audio recording device. It is
desirable to have the documentation supported by video where available. This allows the team
to maintain an audit of its actions and provide a rationale for responding to circumstances in a
particular way.

II. NUMBER OF POLICE OFFICIALS TO DEPLOY

If the crowd estimate of 10,000 holds, the police deployment would provide 1 officer for every 30
to 50 participants, the usual ratio for a rally or parade. Hence the demonstration would require
about 200-350 police officers to maintain peace and order before, during and after the event.
Upon learning about the intelligence report of 700 members of an extremist group trying to
hijack the event, additional 50-100 police officers would be deployed. Immediate calls for
assistance will be made if ever the number of deployed police officials are not still enough to
contain the number of people present.
 III. NATURE AND QUANTITY OF ANY SPECIAL EQUIPMENT

● Assess resources;
○ Identify and arrange for special support
○ Plan for sufficient resources to be at the ready for the “what ifs” and the worst-
case scenarios
○ Determine whether provisions of the applicable labor contracts or agreements
will impact the availability/flexibility of the officers needed to properly manage the
event (scheduling, overtime and relief issues)

a.Shield and Truncheon

During the confrontational stage, truncheon or baton may be utilized only to push back
demonstrators and not as an instrument to strike individuals. However, when demonstrators
become aggressive, truncheon shall be the principal non-lethal weapon for dispersal. In such a
situation, CDM contingents shall nonetheless, use the same with caution and due diligence to
avoid unnecessary injury.
b. Water Cannons
Water cannons may be utilized when demonstrators become unruly and aggressive
forcing troops to fall back to their secondary positions.

IV. POLICE COMMAND STRUCTURE - THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES

The PNP shall not interfere with the holding of a public assembly. However, to ensure public
safety and to maintain peace and order during the assembly, the police contingent under the
command of a PCO preferably with the rank of Police Captain may be detailed and stationed in
a place at least one hundred (100) meters away from the area of activity.

The following Police Officials will be responsible in the pre-planning stage, and they will
supervise their men situated on the field:

● Directorate for Plans

● Directorate for Intelligence
● Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management
 ● Directorate for Operations

The following Police Officials will be deployed on the field to execute the plans made
during the pre-planning stage and briefing to maintain the peace and order of the event:

● Intelligence groups
● Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement groups
● Crime Investigation and Detection Groups
● Highway Patrol Groups
● Special Action Forces

V. TACTICS IN POLICING SITUATION

First, we have the basic approach—officers in regular uniforms, trying to engage and talk to
people, to avoid conflicts. Policemen will be there to blend in with the demonstrators. Engaging
with the groups is the key; this is to earn the trust of the participants.

If it does start to escalate, the level of tension goes high between police force and protesters
that’s when we’ll shift to level two and pull out the regular officers. Those men will be wearing
protective gear, like helmets and will also be provided with truncheons and shields. This is to
ensure that we can still control the situation, but those officers will be reminded to exercise
maximum tolerance.

And the third level is the public order platoons, who have the full gear ready to go if they are
needed: for example, if people start rioting. We wish not to reach this point, as to ensure
everyone’s safety.

VI. FACTS WE COULD COMMUNICATE TO DEMONSTRATORS - WHY

Details related to the number of police officers to be deployed and their tasks would be
shared to the leader/s of the demonstrators, this is to assure them of the assistance to be
provided by police officials. Furthermore, it will also be told that extremist political groups who
oppose the demonstration, that aim to disrupt the proceedings will be present to warn the
demonstrators about the possible disruption these groups may bring to their peaceful protest.
VII. BRIEFING - USE OF FORCE, ARREST AND GENERAL RESPECT FOR HUMAN
RIGHTS AND HUMANITARIAN PRINCIPLES

Based on the Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement Officials adopted by the General
Assembly of the United Nations, we are required to respect and protect human dignity, maintain
and uphold the human rights of all persons, and limit the use of force to situations where it is
strictly necessary and to the extent required for the performance of our duty. This will be
highlighted to our officers during the briefing process.

● Dispersal of Public Assembly

These steps would apply once an assembly becomes violent, the police may disperse such
public assembly in the following manner:
A. Attention of the leaders of the public assembly shall be called and to any possible
disturbance at the first sign of emergent violence;
B. Once actual violence reaches a point where rocks or other harmful objects from the
participants are thrown at the police officers or at any person or at any property, causing
damage to it, the Ground Commander shall warn the participants that if the disturbance
persists, the public assembly will be dispersed;
C. If the situation escalates, the Ground Commander issue a warning to the participants of
the public assembly, and after allowing a reasonable period of time to lapse, he shall
immediately order it to disperse; and
D. No arrest of any leader, organizer or participant shall be made unless he violates during
the assembly a law, statute, or ordinance.

VIII. CARE AND TREATMENT OF INJURED DEMONSTRATORS

One of the assistance to be tapped by the police is from our medical practitioners. Medical staff
will be situated in tents near the routes of the demonstrators, first-aids will be provided by them
in case of emergency. Ambulances will also be on standby in case of grave injuries that need
medical assistance in hospitals.