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Act No. 183 Section 37

Powers and duties of peace officers.

Section 37

SEC. 37. Powers and duties of peace officers.—The members of the Board, the Chief of Police, the Chief of the Secret Service, and all officers and members of the police force and secret service shall be peace officers; and all peace officers created by this Act, or authorized by law, or ordinance, are authorized to serve and execute all processes of municipal courts and criminal processes of Insular ll courts to whomsoever directed, within the jurisdictional limits of the city or within the police limits as hereinbefore defined; and within the same territory they may pursue and arrest, without warrant, any person found in suspicious places or under suspicious circumstances reasonably tending to show that such person has committed, or is about to commit, any crime or breach of the peace; may arrest or cause to be arrested, without warrant, any offender when the offense is committed in the presence of a peace officer or within his view; and in such pursuit or arrest may enter any building, ship, boat, or vessel, or take into custody any person therein suspected of being concerned in such crime or breach of the peace, and any property suspected of having been stolen. They shall detain such person only until he can be brought before the proper magistrate, and shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as peace officers as may be prescribed by law or ordinance. Whenever the Board shall deem it necessary, to avert danger or to protect life and property, in case of riot, disturbance, or public calamity, or when it has reason to fear any serious violation of law and order, it shall have power to swear in special police, in such numbers as the occasion may demand. Such special police shall have the same powers while on duty as members of the regular force. LAW DEPARTMENT.

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Other provisions in Act No. 183

Compiled from an official source version. Later amendments or repeals may not be reflected; the official text prevails. · Read the official text ↗ · Data as of July 4, 2026

CitationAct No. 183 Section 37 (LawPlayer, data as of July 4, 2026)

Source: Supreme Court E-Library, Republic of the Philippines. Philippine laws are public documents (works of the government).

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