PNP Three Tiered Defense System Handbook
PNP Three Tiered Defense System Handbook
PNP Three Tiered Defense System Handbook
On the
PNP Three-Tiered Defense System
Against Terrorism
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Section 1 - Introduction
Section 2 - Terrorism in Simple Terms
Section 3 - Policy Guidelines: The Government Stance —
Prevention through Vigilance and Preparedness
Section 4 - Conceptual Framework
Section 5 - The Three-Tiered Defense System Against Terrorism
Section 6 - The Crisis Management Committee and Its Composition
Section 7 - The On-Scene Command Post and Its Functions
Section 8 - The Incident Manager and the Crisis Management Team
Section 9 - Creation of the Bomb Incident Center (BIC)
and Its Composition
Section 10 - Functions of the Bomb Incident Center
Section 11 - General Guidelines When a Bomb is Reported
or A Threat is Received
Section 12 - Possible Truck/Van Bomb Indicators
Section 13 - Six-Point Citizen Action in Case of Bomb Threats
and Bombing Incidents
Section 14 - Emergency Procedures for Bomb, Explosives
and Similar Threats
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Chapter I
Section 1 - Introduction
Terrorism’s threat has turned into reality once too often in the last two years ─ in
the Philippines and elsewhere.
Terrorism has come to our very doorsteps, making its presence felt in no
uncertain terms. The World Trade Center Bombing in September 11, 2001 that claimed
more than 6,000 lives and injured thousands; the Bali and Manado, Indonesia bombings
on October 12, 2002 that resulted in the death of 184 and injury to 327 others; and the
Moscow tragedy on October 23, 2002 that caused the death of scores of hostages and the
terrorists. Headline-logging incidents that force us to make choices ─ to take action or
to cower in fear.
Closer to home, in October 2002, six (6) bombing incidents were recorded: 4 in
Zamboanga City, 1 in Kidapawan City, and 1 in Quezon City, killing 18 people and
injuring more than 200 others. Two years before, five bomb explosions occurred in
Metro Manila on December 30, 2000, four of which transpired within a span of one
hour. A total of twelve (12) persons died and sixty-seven (67) others were injured in the
blasts.
Between 2000 and 2001, several bombings occurred in bus terminals and other
places of convergence in Mindanao, particularly in Kabacan, Cotabato City, Koronadal
City, General Santos City and Isabela City. Again, the blasts resulted in the death and
injury of innocent civilians, and severe damage to establishments, facilities and
properties.
These may very well signal that the emerging theater of terrorist activities is the
Southeast Asian region, including the Philippines. This is also our wake-up call to
strengthen our defense system, and move into a pro-active, preventive mode.
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Section 2 - Terrorism in Simple Terms
Terrorism is simply a means to an end, not an end in itself. Let alone, terrorism
can accomplish nothing in terms of goals; it aims at obtaining a response that will
achieve political goals. Said another way, terrorist activity is aimed not so much at the
target upon which the initial act is committed, but to a much wider audience who will
view and interpret the act.
One possible immediate purpose for terrorist acts is to create dissension between
sectors in a community or society, such as Christians versus Muslims, etc. We must not
fault religion or its members for the upheaval. All of the world’s major religions preach
the same values of love, peace, charity and brotherhood among men.
The psychological impact of terrorism vastly exceeds the actual threat. The
publicity factor contributes greatly to its success.
Lastly, most of the victims of terrorist activity are innocent bystanders. Since
terrorists are enemies of the people, public support for the war against terror will help a
lot.
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committees, task forces and work groups bearing related
responsibilities shall be placed within the ambit of the Cabinet
Oversight Committee. The Cabinet Oversight Committee is
authorized to call upon any department, agency or office of the
Government to support its functions and responsibilities.
Other legal parameters and policy expansions are listed in Annex “B”.
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Section 4 - Conceptual Framework
While terrorism strikes anytime and anywhere, there are enough insights and
experiences that may inform a government defense system. The way to defeat
terrorism is to deny any opening, opportunity, vulnerability. The means to diminish
terrorism’s appeal as the political weapon of choice is to harness the very mass of
people and citizenry that terrorists aims to conquer through fear. Vigilance in united
action is the first step to weaken the power of terrorism. Noting the truism of Lee Tom
Ridge of the US Homeland Security statement: “There are far more terrorist
targets than defenders.”, this Three-Tiered Defense System also aims to promote
community resiliency, the ability to quickly bounce back individually and
collectively from state of “panic and freeze” in the immediate aftermath of
terrorist incident to normalcy and daily goings-on of business and life.
The Three-Tiered Defense System is the PNP’s basic action framework against
terrorism, with three distinct phases or components: Intelligence, Target Hardening and
Incident Management. This Three-Tiered Defense System rests solidly on community
partnership and the involvement of the entire society. Local Government Executives
(Mayors, Governors) take the lead role. Legal Offensive boosts the three-tiered defense
system, wherein the Department of National Defense/Armed Forces of the Philippines,
Department of Justice and the Commission on Human Rights shall assist in the
investigation, documentation and prosecution of all terrorism-related cases. Terrorism
is a criminal act in all its stages and during its life. As such legal offensive cuts across
the entire Three-Tiered Defense System. Aside from preventing the incident to
happen and arresting suspects, putting the terrorist behind bar requires more
elaborate profiling, documentation, scientific examination, and build-up of criminal
case that can withstand judicial scrutiny and pass the standards of due observance of
human rights.
Intelligence is knowing the enemy and identifying its potential targets. The
community through the Local Government Executives (LGE) must have its own
intelligence activities in every village, residential and commercial areas and elsewhere,
making every citizen a vigilant watchperson. It is necessary that suspicious persons,
unusual movements (such as unusual delivery of large amount of ammonium nitrate)
etc. and other clandestine activities be adequately monitored. This requires police-
military and community partnership through the following activities:
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• Media Management
• The CMC determines the priority of efforts, when law enforcement gives
in to emergency operations.
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A specific Ten-Point Program for police-community partnership against
terrorism has been crafted (Annex “C”).
The Crisis Management Committee handles crisis situations arising from peace
and order and internal security concerns. The Peace and Order Councils activates the
Crisis Management Committee, as necessary.
At the national level, the Secretary of the Interior and Local Government (SILG)
chairs the National Peace and Order Council Crisis Management Committee (NPOC-
CMC), with the Secretary of National Defense (SND), Secretary of the Department of
Social Welfare and Development (SDSWD); Secretary of the Department of Justice
(SDOJ), the Chief of Staff of the AFP, the Chief of the PNP, and private sector
representatives as members.
The On-Scene Command Post (OSCP) shall be established at the vicinity of the
crisis incident site where it can best monitor and control the crisis management
operations. All instructions from the CMC shall be relayed to the OSCP.
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The functions of the On-Scene Command Post are the following:
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• Explosives and Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Team – This team conducts post-
blast investigation and renders the area safe prior to further
investigation and gathering of evidence.
• Traffic Team - This team shall direct and control traffic at the incident site
and all routes leading to and from the site. Special attention is given to
traffic of augmentation forces and equipment.
Media Relations Group - This group shall be composed of civilian, military and
police personnel tasked to coordinate and control public information/media coverage,
and media relations functions.
The Incident Manager shall be designated in every vital installation such as seat
of government, powerlines, airports, sea ports railways, water reservoir, tri-media
stations, cell sites, etc; economic key point such as oil depot, granaries/NFA, malls,
public markets, theaters, tourist spots, bus terminals, etc; and other places of
convergence such as parks, churches, schools, parking areas, and establishments that
are potential targets of terrorist attacks. The Incident Manager is one who is the most
knowledgeable on the mentioned areas of convergence, such as security officers,
company managers, barangay captains and the like.
The Incident Manager shall activate the Crisis Management Team to facilitate
initial actions in mitigating the effects of a terrorist incident, secure the incident site,
collect all information available prior to the arrival of the Crisis Management
Committee (CMC) which shall take over the operations.
The Crisis Management Team shall be composed of persons who are working
within the establishments or members of the community within the area where the
incident occurred such as managers, security officers, company doctors and nurses,
security guards, barangay officials, barangay tanods, utility personnel and volunteers
capable of providing services such as first aid, firefighting, evacuation, traffic direction
and control, the like.
In case of terrorist attack, the Incident Manager shall direct the members of the
Crisis Management Team to establish perimeter security, give first aid and bring all
victims to the nearest hospital, guide other persons/innocent civilians to a safer place,
put out fire if possible, conduct traffic direction and control and prevent the escape of
the perpetrators, if possible, by cordoning the affected area, prior to the arrival of the
Crisis Management Committee (CMC).
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Section 9 - Creation of the Bomb Incident Center (BIC) and Its Composition
PNP Letter of Instruction 37/2002 sets the general guidelines for the creation of
the Bomb Incident Center (BIC), and prescribes the procedures and tasks of concerned
PNP offices/units in the provision of operational support and management of
information/data arising from bomb-related incidents, in support of the PNP’s
campaign against terrorism.
NHQs
BIC Secretariat
PACER
and DO
EOD, FED, TF
SAF IG CIDG CLS LSS CSG SANGLAHI PACER
The NHQs BIC shall be composed of technically trained personnel from the following
units: Special Action Force (SAF), Intelligence Group (IG), Criminal Investigation and
Detection Group (CIDG), Crime Laboratory Service (CLS), Explosive and Ordnance Disposal–
Logistics Support Service (EOD-LSS), Firearms and Explosives Division-Civil Security Group
(FED-CSG), Task Force SANGLAHI (TF SANGLAHI) and Police Anti-Crime and Emergency
Response (PACER).
A Secretariat shall be organized to coordinate and assist the BIC in its day-to-day
operational and administrative activities. DO and PACER shall jointly act as the Secretariat. The
Chief, PACER shall act as the OIC of the NHQs BIC.
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PRO
BIC
ROPD
The Regional BIC shall be composed of personnel from the RMG, RIO, RCIDO,
RCLO, EOD and PACER. The Regional Operations and Plans Division (ROPD) shall act
as the Secretariat. The Deputy Regional Director for Operations (DRDO) shall act as the
OIC of the PRO BIC.
NCRPO-DPO
BIC
DOPD
The NCRPO – DPO BIC shall be composed of personnel from the DMG, DIU,
DCIDU, DCLU and EODU. The District Operations and Plans Division (DOPD) shall
provide the Secretariat. The Deputy District Director for Operations (DDDO) shall act as
the OIC of the NCRPO-DPO BIC.
PPO
BIC
POPD
The PPO BIC shall be composed of personnel from the PMG, PIU, PCIDT and
PCLU. The Provincial Operations and Plans Division (POPD) shall act as the secretariat.
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The Deputy Provincial Director for Operations (DPDO) shall act as the OIC of the PPO
BIC.
CPO/CPS
BIC
COPD
The CPO/CPS BIC shall be composed of personnel from the SWAT-EODU, CIU,
CCIDT and CCLU. The City Operations and Plans Division (COPD) shall provide the
Secretariat. The Deputy Chief of Police shall act as the OIC of the CPO/CPS BIC.
Search Techniques
1. Personnel involved in the search must only search for and report
suspicious objects. The removal/disarming of a bomb must be left to
professional bomb technicians.
4. The danger area should be identified and a clear zone of at least 300
feet should be blocked off including areas below and above the object.
5. Check that all doors and windows are open to minimize primary
damage from blast and secondary damage from fragmentation.
7. Do not permit re-entry into the building until the device has been
removed/disarmed.
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Potential Concealment Areas
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• Chemical fires, toxic odors, brightly colored stains or rusted metal
fixtures in apartments, hotel/motel rooms, or self-storage units
• Rental, theft, or purchase of truck or van with heavy-duty springs to
handle heavier loads
• Modification of truck or van with heavy-duty springs to handle
heavier load
• Small test explosions in rural or wooded areas
• Treatment of burns or mutilation
• Untreated chemical burns or missing hands/fingers
• Physical surveillance
• Purchase of or illicit access to facility blueprints
Be STRONG!
• Stay calm.
• Take proper precautions at home and at work.
• Report incidents or information to PNP TXT 2920 or Patrol 117
immediately.
• Organize and mobilize monitoring groups in your neighborhood and
in your workplace.
• Neutralize rumors or unverified reports received through text
messages. Delete, do not forward.
• Get back to normal routine; business as usual as soon as possible.
Bombs have been used against establishments, organizations and individuals for
the purpose of revenge, extortion and terrorism. The physical appearance of a bomb is
limited only by the imagination of the bomber.
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1. General Action
d. Small rough parcels and plastic-type shopping bags left in odd locations or
near entrances should be at once suspect for bombs. Likewise, unfamiliar cars parked
haphazardly may possibly be the bomb source.
2. Specific Procedures
NAME________________________________TIME__________DATE ____________
QUESTIONS TO ASK:
_____ Male _____ Female _____ Local ____Long Distance _____ Foreign
_____ Adult _____ Juvenile _____ Internal ____ Unknown _____ Local
Approximate Age __________ _____ Booth Possible Nationality __________
OTHER REMARKS
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
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ANNEXES
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6. US DEFENSE INTELLIGENCE AGENCY (DIA) - It is premeditated
political violence perpetrated against non-combatant targets by sub-national groups or
clandestine state agents, usually to influence an audience.
Terrorist acts are criminal acts intended or calculated to provoke a state of terror in the
general public by a group of persons or particular person for political purposes.
Terrorist is an individual who uses violence, terror, and intimidation to achieve political
results.
Sabotage is an act or acts with intent to injure, interfere with, or obstruct the national
defense of a country or disrupt the normal activities of a civilized society by willfully
injuring or destroying, or attempting to injure or destroy, any national defense or war
material, premises, or utilities, to include human and natural resources.
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Government in connection with its commitment to cooperate in the international
struggle against terrorism, and its policies and actions pursuant to its commitment.
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EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 216 IMPLEMENTATION OF SECTION 12 OF
REPUBLIC ACT 6975 dated December 16, 1994. The Executive Order was issued to
assure smoothness, continuity, consistency, integration and coordination of efforts
particularly during and incidental to the shifting of roles to assume primary or
supporting roles and vice-versa. It therefore directs the Department of National
Defense (DND) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to
jointly prepare for the approval of the President Implementing Guidelines to enhance
the internal security management system which shall, among others, define the
strategic concept of the internal security program, determine the various levels of
internal security conditions, the appropriate government responses for each level and
the responsibilities for primary and supporting roles of concerned agencies and forces
in each case, in order to ensure continued, consistent, integrated and coordinated
internal security measures.
LETTER OF INSTRUCTIONS 12/02 (PACER) dated July 15, 2002. The Letter of
Instructions covers the creation and operationalization of the Police Anti-Crime and
Emergency Response (PACER) and elaborates on its functions and operational thrusts.
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support the AFP on matters involving suppression of insurgency, except in cases where
the President shall call on the PNP to support the AFP in combat operations.
1. Immediate convening of all Peace and Order Councils (POCs) in the provinces,
cities, municipalities and also the convening of the Barangay Peace and Order
Committees (BPOCs) in order to put in place and activate their respective anti-terrorism
sub-committees to address the terrorist threats.
2. Adoption by the Peace and Order Councils of all provinces, cities and
municipalities and by the barangay POCs of anti-terrorism public safety plan with
provision on reporting and feedback mechanism to law enforcement authorities to
ensure regular monitoring of unusual and suspicious movements of inhabitants in their
respective localities.
3. Convening of the barangay assemblies all over the country to educate their
constituents on how to deal and cope with terrorist threats in their respective
barangays.
4. Mobilization of all barangay tanods in the country in order to conduct daily regular
“rondas” and searches in accordance with law, in public places within their respective areas of
jurisdiction.
7. Review and updating by the PNP and other law enforcement agencies of their
respective public safety and security plans in public and private installations, public
places such as shopping malls, markets, supermarkets, schools, public park and plazas,
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theaters and amusement places, bus and jeepney terminals, parking spaces, bus and
jeepney stops, factories and public buildings and the like.
8. A call on the citizenry to be more vigilant and encourage them to help in the anti-terrorist
campaign by immediately reporting to the authority suspicious persons, pieces of baggage and
other materials.
9. Call on the owners, proprietors and administrators of establishments to review and update
their safety and security procedures by including the conduct of thorough and regular searches of
persons, their baggage and their personal belongings in the entrances of their respective
establishments.
10. A call on all NGOs, church groups, civic organizations and other sectoral
organizations in the localities to help and assist their respective local government
officials and their local peace and order councils and committees in the overall efforts
against terrorist threats by actively participating in the education campaign on how the
citizenry can cope and deal with such terrorist threats.
References
2. Memorandum Order No. 37 - Providing for the Fourteen Pillars of Policy and
Action of the Government Against Terrorism dated October 12, 2001.
3. Executive Order No. 34 - Reconstituting the National Security Council and for
other Purposes dated September 17, 2001.
4. Joint Implementing Rules and Regulation to Executive Order 110 Series of 1999
dated August 18, 1999.
9. Executive Order No. 110 Directing the Philippine National Police to Support the
Armed Forces of the Philippines in Internal Security Operations for the Suppression of
Insurgency and Other Serious Threats to National Security dated June 15, 1999.
10. Executive Order No. 216 Implementation of Section 12 of Republic Act 6975
dated December 16, 1994.
11. Executive Order No. 125 Defining the Approach and Administrative Structure
for Government’s Comprehensive Peace Efforts dated September 15, 1993.
12. Primer on the National Plan to Address Terrorism published by the Directorate
on Terrorism, Operations Center, Cabinet Oversight Committee on Internal Security.
16. Section 3 of Republic Act No. 8551- An Act Providing for the Reform and
Reorganization of the Philippine National Police and for Other Purposes, Amending
Certain Provisions of Republic Act No 6975 – An Act Establishing the Philippine
National Police Under a Reorganized Department of the Interior and Local
Government, and for other Purposes approved on February 25, 1998.
17. Section 12 of Republic Act No. 6975 An Act Establishing the Philippine National
Police Under a Reorganized Department of the Interior and Local Government, and for
Other Purposes dated December 13, 1990.
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19. Briefing Manuscript on Kidnap-for-Ransom Situation (January to June
2001/2002).
20. The Revised Penal Code of the Philippines (Act No. 3815 as amended).
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