Manila Police District

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Manila Police District
Manila Police District badge.png
Manila Police District patch depicting the department logo, including the old arms of the City of Manila
Common nameManila Police District
AbbreviationMPD
MottoManila's Finest
The Buoy of Liberty and a Great Spirit
(Timbulan ng Laya at Diwang Dakila)
(Boya de Libertad y Gran Espiritu)
Agency overview
FormedJanuary 9, 1901
Preceding agencies
  • Manila Police Department (until 1978)
  • Western Police District
Jurisdictional structure
Operations jurisdictionManila, Philippines
Operational structure
HeadquartersManila Police District Headquarters, United Nations Avenue, Ermita, Manila
Agency executive
  • PBGEN Arnold Abad, District Director
Parent agency National Capital Region Police Office
Facilities
Stations14 Police stations
Website
http://pnp.gov.ph/portal/

The Manila Police District (MPD) is the agency of the Philippine National Police (PNP) responsible for law enforcement in the City of Manila including the Manila South Cemetery exclave. [1] Formerly known as the Western Police District (WPD), the MPD is under the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO), which also handles the Quezon City, Eastern, Northern and Southern Police Districts.

Contents

History

American period

The United States Army took over the duty of enforcing public order in Manila upon its fall in 1898. It consisted of military units under the command of Brigadier General Arthur MacArthur Jr. as Provost Marshal General. [2]

By virtue of Act No. 70 of the US Philippine (Taft) Commission, enacted and implemented on January 9, 1901, [3] MacArthur, being Provost Marshal General and military governor at that time, organized the Metropolitan Police Force of Manila, with himself as its first chief. The Act also authorized its operation outside its jurisdiction. [2] [4] An entirely American body, the force was first stationed at the present-day Goldenberg Mansion, San Miguel. [4]

With the enactment of Act No. 183 on July 31 of the same year that established the Manila city charter which became effective a week later, [5] the power vested in the Provost Marshal to exercise general supervisory control over the police and other departments of the city government was transferred; the force was reorganized and was headed first by Lieutenant Colonel John L. Tiernon, and later by Captain George Curry. [2] [4] [6]

The police force was renamed into the Manila Police Department, and was initially composed by 357 troops from the American Volunteer Force to the Philippines. The MPD has jurisdiction five miles from the city limits and three miles from the shores to Manila Bay. This led into disputes with the Philippine Constabulary, which had police powers elsewhere in the Philippines. In 1907, the MPD was split into two: the Meisic Police Station north of the Pasig River and the Luneta Police Station south of the river. By 1935, the headquarters was moved to the new Manila City Hall. [4] On March 2, 1936, Antonio Torres, then a member of the Manila City Council, was appointed chief, the first Filipino do so.

Japanese to Liberation era

Manila Police District (MPD) Headquarters in UN Avenue, Ermita since 1949. Manila Police District (PNP-MPD) (UN Avenue, Ermita, Manila)(2014-10-22) 2.jpg
Manila Police District (MPD) Headquarters in UN Avenue, Ermita since 1949.

However, in 1942 at the outset of World War II, the Kempetai, the Japanese Military Police, ordered Torres to submit to their authority. After the Battle of Manila, the combined American and Filipino troops reorganized the police force, and Allied forces were appointed chiefs until the appointment of Lamberto Javalera as acting chief of police. [4]

Third Republic

In 1949, the MPD transferred their headquarters for the last time, in a newly constructed building at the corner of San Marcelino and Isaac Peral (now United Nations Avenue); the funding of the reconstruction came from the Philippine Rehabilitation Act of 1948. By this time, the President of the Philippines had appointment powers to the office. Notable was the appointment of Ricardo Papa, who organized an anti-smuggling unit that minimized smuggling in the city. [4]

In 1970, amidst of "First Quarter Storm" protests of students, MPD is tasked together with METROCOM to protect and ensure the security of President Ferdinand Marcos and the First Lady in the Legislative Building while the President delivers speech for his State of the Nation Address. The said protest was largely peaceful until the end of the program, but disagreements of factions arose of who will control the protest stage. After Marcos finished his speech, he walked out the legislative building, [7] jeered by the protesters with throwing pebbles and paper balls, as well as the protest effigies which portrayed a crocodile and a coffin representing the death of democracy, at Marcos and his retinue. [8]

Marcos and the First Lady successfully escaped to the presidential limousine, leaving MPD and METROCOM to disperse the crowd. This led to hours of confrontation between the protesters and the police, ending with at least two students confirmed dead and several more students injured. [9] [10]

Martial law to late WPD days

Facade of the Ermita Police Station of the Manila Police District. Ermita Police Station.jpg
Facade of the Ermita Police Station of the Manila Police District.

On September 21, 1972, President Marcos declared martial law nationwide and in 1974, he appointed James Barbers was appointed as its police chief. In 1975, Barber's position are now called as Superintendent (Police Chief), with Marcos created the Integrated National Police with the Philippine Constabulary as its nucleus. MPD change its name as the Western Police District (WPD) under of Metropolitan Police Force (MPF), INP's Metro Manila counterpart of METROCOM. [4]

On February 26, 1986, Marcos was overthrown after the People Power Revolution. A few months later, Alfredo Lim was appointed chief and increased the number of precincts from six to ten. Lim would later be director of the National Bureau of Investigation, Mayor of Manila and Senator. In 1990, the Interior and Local Government Act 1990.was promulgated, that created the Philippine National Police, absorbing the Philippine Constabulary. Other notable names who had been named as WPD chief are Hermogenes Ebdane on November 5, 1993, and Avelino Razon on June 16, 1996, and December 20, 1999. [4] The two were later named chiefs of the PNP.

As MPD to Present

On July 20, 2005, the WPD reverted to their former name back to the Manila Police District (MPD), by the National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM). [11]

In August 23, 2010, a tourist bus from Hong Kong was hijacked in Luneta in Ermita, by a dismissed police officer named Rolando Mendoza. [12] [13] By noon, three additional hostages, including the Filipino tour guide and the two photographers who volunteered to be taken hostage, had also been released. [14] Superintendent Orlando Yebra and Chief inspector Romeo Salvador led negotiations. Seventeen people remained on the bus. [15]

Aftermath of the 2010 Manila Bus Hostage Crisis. 2010 Manila hostage crisis bus.JPG
Aftermath of the 2010 Manila Bus Hostage Crisis.

When the Manila Police District (MPD) SWAT team arrived, Mendoza declared in a radio interview with DZXL that he would kill the passengers if the SWAT team did not leave. His brother, SPO2 Gregorio Mendoza, walked out after trying to negotiate with him. He urged Mendoza to surrender peacefully. [16] Gregorio Mendoza was then arrested for breaching the exclusion zone while carrying a gun, as he did not have the MPD's approval to assist in the negotiations. [17] [18]

Mendoza became agitated when he witnessed live coverage of his brother's arrest from the bus television. Reports indicated that Mendoza fired warning shots as he saw his brother being carried away. Mendoza demanded that the police release his brother, or else he would start executing hostages, and a few minutes later claimed on live radio that he had, indeed, already shot two hostages. [19]

The SWAT team started to surround the bus at 7:37 pm. [20] The team failed to enter the bus for nearly an hour. Initial attempts to break the shatter-resistant Plexiglass windows with a sledgehammer failed. At 7:45 pm, a rope was tied to the front doors of the bus, which snapped when they attempted to pull the door open. [21]

After running out of choices, they threw two canisters of tear gas inside and Mendoza stepped out of the bus. Snipers, who had taken positions earlier in the day, ultimately shot Mendoza in the head as he went to exit the bus, killing him instantly and causing his body to hang part way out the window of the bus door. By that time, as a thunderstorm dumped rain on the area, however, four more hostages were confirmed dead, while only six hostages were confirmed alive and not seriously injured. [22]

Anniversary commemoration

The anniversary of the Manila police force was celebrated on July 31 until the early 1980s when records showed that it was actually on January 9. [2]

The issue of changing the foundation date began when Brig. Gen. James Barbers, then WPD superintendent, had read the 1933 book Philippine Police System and Its Problems, called Miguel Parungao, historian and curator of the Manila Metropolitan Police Museum, who was able to confirm the information by finding the document of Act No. 70. It also confirmed the fact that MacArthur, not Curry, was the first Manila police chief. [2]

This was eventually resolved by top law enforcement officials when WPD, under the leadership of P/Brig. Gen. Narciso Cabrera, observed for the first time the actual foundation on January 9, 1983. [2]

Organization

The MPD is organized into eleven (11) police stations and several district support units: [23] [24]

MPD Director - P/CSUPT ISAGANI F GENABE PNP supervises the security operations during the 2013 Philippine Bar Examination. NBI and PNP secures Philippine Bar Exams of 2013.JPG
MPD Director - P/CSUPT ISAGANI F GENABE PNP supervises the security operations during the 2013 Philippine Bar Examination.
DOT Secretary Alberto Lim turns over to PSRINSP Jovan Sicat twenty (20) bikes for the use of the Manila Police District Tourist Police. MPD Tourist Police.jpg
DOT Secretary Alberto Lim turns over to PSRINSP Jovan Sicat twenty (20) bikes for the use of the Manila Police District Tourist Police.

Base Units

Administrative Support Units
Operations Support Units

Line Units

Criticism

The PNP in general, and the MPD in particular, is characterized as slow, unfit, trigger-happy and corrupt. Several policemen have been arrested for committing extortion against violators of the law (popularly known as "kotong," hence the term "kotong cop"). [25] Police are also involved in shootouts, or using excessive force against suspects. [26]

Recently two issues have been hurled against the MPD. One is the recent exposé of a policeman torturing a suspect in a police precinct in Tondo. The officer who allegedly tortured the suspect was filed with administrative chargers [27] Another was the inept resolution of the Manila hostage crisis which resulted in the death of 8 tourists from Hong Kong. MPD chief Rolando Magtibay was sacked two days after the failed assault. [28] His replacement, Senior Superintendent Francisco Villaroman, made acting head of the MPD, was replaced after one day. PNP did not comment on his removal. However, the Philippine Daily Inquirer said Villaroman was among police officers charged in the disappearance of two Hong Kong residents in the Philippines in 1998 and 1999. Villaroman said that the matter was heavily politicized, as it was linked to the affairs of the then at-large Senator Panfilo Lacson. [29]

Lists of chiefs

Toyota Vios of the Manila Police District. Toyota Vios Philippine Police Car Manila City.jpg
Toyota Vios of the Manila Police District.
NameTermNotes
From establishment to Commonwealth
Gen. Arthur MacArthur Jr. January 9 – July 31, 1901 [2]
Capt. George Curry July 31, 1901 – 1902 [2]
Mathew Harmon1901 - 1903
Capt. John E. Harvin
1903 – July 1910 [2]
John Fulton Green (acting)July 1910 – 1911Acting [2]
John E. Harding1911–1913
Capt. George H. SeaverDecember 1, 1913 – June 16, 1918 [2]
Capt. Anton HollmannJune 16, 1918 – January 9, 1920 [2]
Capt. Edwin C. BoppJanuary 9, 1920 – March 20, 1922 [2]
Lt. Col. Gregorio M. Alcid (acting)1921–1922Acting [2]
Col. John William Green, IIIMarch 20, 1922 – March 2, 1929 [2]
Lt. Col. Gregorio M. Alcid (acting)1929 – 1930Acting [2]
Col. Columbus E. Piatt1930 – March 1, 1936 [2]
From Commonwealth to Western Police District
Col. Antonio C. Torres March 1, 1936 – January 1945 [2]
Col. Juan F. Dominguez1939 – 1940Acting [2]
COL. Manuel S. Turingan SR.1940 - 1945
Marcus Ellis JonesFebruary 7, 1945
Col. Jeremiah P. HollandMay 1, 1945 – March 1946 [2]
Col. Angel M. TuasonMarch – July 3, 1946 [2]
Col. Lamberto T. JavaleraJuly 12, 1946 – May 1947 [2]
Col. Manuel dela FuenteMay 1947 – January 1948 [2]
Col. Eduardo QuintosJanuary 12, 1948 – December 1 or 3, 1951First term [2] [30]
Col. Dionisio OjedaJanuary 1952 – April 1953 [2]
Col. Cesar V. LuceroApril 10, 1953 - January 5, 1954 [2]
Col. Telesforo TenorioJanuary 5, 1954 – May 10, 1962 [2]
Col. Napoleon D. ValerianoOctober 27 – November 21, 1954 [2]
Gen. Marcos G. Soliman May 10 – September 17, 1962 [2]
Brig. Gen. Eduardo QuintosSeptember 17, 1962 – April 7, 1965First chief to serve for the second term [2] [30]
Gen. Eugenio C. TorresApril 8, 1965 - May 24, 1966 [2]
Gen. Ricardo G. Papa March 26, 1966 - March 13, 1968 [2]
Gen. Enrique V. MoralesMarch 14 – November 30, 1968 [2]
Gen. Gerardo G. TamayoNovember 30, 1968 - September 16, 1974 [2]
As chief of the Western Police District
BGen. James G. Barbers September 17 – December 20, 1974Acting [2]
December 20, 1974 – August 7, 1979As superintendent [2]
Gen. Pedro F. de la PazAugust 8, 1979 – January 1, 1981 [2]
Gen. Narciso M. CabreraJanuary 2, 1981 – May 1, 1986 [2]
P/Brig. Gen. Alfredo S. Lim May 2, 1986 – December 21, 1989 [2]
Col. Hector M. Ciria CruzSometime in the 1970s to late 1980sBecame Chief of Police (WPD), a close friend with Alfredo Lim
GEN. Ernesto DioknoDecember 22, 1989 - August 7, 1992
P/CSUPT Oscar AquinoAugust 7, 1992 - September 7, 1992
BRIG. GEN. Proceso D. AlmandoSeptember 7, 1992 - December 8, 1992
P/CSUPT Romeo O. OdiDecember 8, 1992 - November 5, 1991
P/CSUPT Hermogenes Ebdane, Jr. November 5, 1993 - June 16, 1996
P/CSupt. Avelino Razon Jr. June 11, 1996 – August 3, 1998First term [30]
P/SSUPT Virtus GilAugust 3, 1998 - December 14, 1998
P/CSUPT Efren FernandezDecember 16, 1998 - December 20, 1999
P/CSupt. Avelino Razon Jr.December 20, 1999 – March 15, 2001Second chief to serve for the second term [30]
P/CSUPT Nicolas Pasinos JRMarch 15, 2001 - July 29, 2002
P/CSUPT Pedro BulaongJuly 31, 2002 - August 1, 2006
As chief of the Manila Police District
P/SSUPT. Danilo AbarzosaJuly 25, 2006 - September 24, 2007
PCSUPT Roberto RosalesSeptember 24, 2007 - April 1, 2009
PCSUPT Rodolfo MagtibayApril 1, 2009 - August 25, 2010Chief when the Manila Hostage Crisis happened
PSSUPT Francisco Villaroman (OIC)August 25, 2010
PCSUPT Leocadio Santiago, Jr.August 27, 2010
PCSUPT Roberto P RongavillaAugust 28, 2010 - October 19, 2011
PCSUPT Alejandro GutierrezOctober 20, 2011 - April 5, 2013
PSSUPT Robert Po (OIC)April 5, 2013 - July 1, 2013
PCSUPT Isagani Genabe, Jr.July 1, 2013 - January 26, 2014
PCSUPT Rolando E AsuncionFebruary 27, 2014 - October 8, 2014
PCSUPT Rolando Z. NanaOctober 8, 2014 - June 30, 2016
PBGen Joel N CoronelJuly 1, 2016 - May 31, 2018
PBGEN Rolando B. AnduyanJuly 1, 2018 - November 7, 2018
Police BGen. Vicente Danao November 18, 2018 - October 19, 2019Reassigned and promoted as regional director, PRO4A.
Police BGen. Bernabe M. BalbaOctober 20, 2019 - March 19, 2020Reassigned and promoted as regional director, PRO8.
Police BGen. Rolando F. MirandaMarch 19, 2020 - December 1, 2020Reassigned and promoted as regional director, PRO6.
Police BGen. Leo M. FranciscoDecember 1, 2020 - August 8, 2022Reassigned and promoted as regional director, PRO6.
Police BGen. Andre P. DizonAugust 8, 2022 – October 16, 2023Current Acting Director of the Philippine National Police Academy
Police BGen. Arnold Thomas C. IbayOctober 17, 2023 – April 11, 2025Current Regional Director of the Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR)
Police BGen. Benigno L. GuzmanApril 11, 2025 – July 14, 2025Current Acting Director of the PNP Police Security and Protection Group
Police BGen. Arnold E. Abad [31] July 14, 2025 –Present

See also

References

  1. ↑ Hernaez, Jeffrey (October 20, 2023). "More visitors expected at Manila South Cemetery during Undas". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 (Supplement) "Manila's Finest" (January 9, 1988). Manila Standard , pp. 8–9. Retrieved July 14, 2023.
  3. ↑ "Act No. 70". Legislative Digital Resources. Senate of the Philippines. January 8, 1901. Retrieved July 15, 2023.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "History of the Manila Police District". MPD official website. Retrieved August 27, 2010.[ dead link ]
  5. ↑ Citations (Act No. 183):
  6. ↑ "Transport Meade". Pacific Commercial Advertiser . Honolulu, HI. November 9, 1900. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ↑ Lacaba, Jose F. (February 7, 1970) The January 26 Confrontation: A Highly Personal Account. The Philippines Free Press.
  8. ↑ Magno, Alexander R., ed. (1998). "Chapter 11: Tyranny Descends". Kasaysayan, The Story of the Filipino People Volume 9:A Nation Reborn. Hong Kong: Asia Publishing Company Limited.
  9. ↑ Joaquin, Nick (1990). Manila,My Manila. Vera-Reyes, Inc.
  10. ↑ Dacanay, Barbara Mae Naredo (February 24, 2020). "The 7 deadly protests of the First Quarter Storm". ABS CBN News and Public Affairs. Archived from the original on February 28, 2020. Retrieved February 28, 2020.
  11. ↑ "Napolcom approves new names for police districts". Philstar.com. Retrieved January 1, 2024.
  12. ↑ Robles, Alan (August 24, 2010). "Disgrace of a model policeman thrown out of force for corruption" . South China Morning Post . Retrieved August 25, 2025.
  13. ↑ Gregorio, Ann Rozainne R. (August 24, 2010).Timeline: Manila hostage crisis Archived September 23, 2015, at the Wayback Machine . BusinessWorld .
  14. ↑ First Report of the INCIDENT INVESTIGATION and REVIEW COMMITTEE on the August 23, 2010 Rizal Park Hostage-taking Incident: SEQUENCE OF EVENTS, EVALUATION and RECOMMENDATIONS, Incident Investigation and Review Committee, September 16, 2010, pp. 9–10, 16, 22, 24, archived from the original on July 11, 2019, retrieved May 22, 2020
  15. ↑ Jeannette Andrade, Cathy Miranda (August 23, 2010). "9th hostage freed, 17 others left onboard [sic] bus". Philippine Daily Inquirer, INQUIRER.net. Archived from the original on October 2, 2012. Retrieved August 23, 2010.
  16. ↑ Andrade, Jeannette (August 23, 2010). "Hostage-taking cop's brother walks out of negotiations". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on October 5, 2012. Retrieved August 23, 2010.
  17. ↑ "Shots fired in Manila hostage crisis – report". GMA News. August 23, 2010. Archived from the original on March 11, 2014. Retrieved August 23, 2010.
  18. ↑ "President Aquino: SPO2 Gregorio Mendoza in custody". ANC News. August 23, 2010. Archived from the original on June 19, 2012. Retrieved August 23, 2010.
  19. ↑ "Transcript of hostage-taker's last radio interview". ABS-CBN News. August 30, 2010. Archived from the original on June 13, 2011. Retrieved July 13, 2011.
  20. ↑ Abella, Jerry; Faustino, Pia (August 24, 2010). "Massacre in nation's heart: Timeline of Manila bus siege". GMA News Online. Retrieved August 25, 2025.
  21. ↑ "Napolcom approves new names for police districts". Philstar.com. Retrieved January 1, 2024.
  22. ↑ Abella, Jerrie (August 23, 2010). "Hostage crisis ends in bloody carnage; 4 hostages dead". GMA News. Archived from the original on November 8, 2013. Retrieved August 23, 2010.
  23. ↑ "Manila Police District - POLICE STATIONS". police.contactnumbersph.com.
  24. ↑ "Manila Police District (MPD)". ncrpo.pnp.gov.ph.
  25. ↑ "Manila Police chief cracks down on 'telebabad cops'". GMANews.tv. November 20, 2008. Retrieved August 28, 2010.
  26. ↑ "8 MPD members in April Delpan shootout charged with homicide". abs-cbnnews.com. May 6, 2008. Archived from the original on July 7, 2011. Retrieved August 28, 2010.
  27. ↑ Tina Santos, Jeannette Andrade (August 20, 2010). "Cop in torture video faces raps". Philippine Daily Inquirer . Archived from the original on August 23, 2010. Retrieved August 28, 2010.
  28. ↑ "Manila police OIC an expert in hostage situations". GMANews.tv. August 26, 2010. Retrieved August 28, 2010.
  29. ↑ Reuters, Agence France-Presse (August 28, 2010). "New chief lasts one day", South China Morning Post (Hong Kong)
  30. 1 2 3 4 "Maraming naisakatuparan ang Manila Police". Pilipino Star Ngayon (in Tagalog). November 12, 2000. Retrieved July 14, 2023.
  31. ↑ "NEW MPD CHIEF". The Manila Times. July 14, 2025. Retrieved September 2, 2025.

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