Preamble
"SEC. 183. Powers and duties of sheriff.—In the City of Manila and in each of the several provinces there shall be an officer to be known as the sheriff, whose powers and duties shall be these: "(a) He shall be the legal custodian of the courthouse or of the quarters set apart for the court room and court offices, including, in the City of Manila, the buildings occupied by the Supreme Court, and he shall be charged with the care and safe-keeping of all public property therein, except the books, records, and papers appertaining to the office of the clerk. "(b) He shall, in person or by deputy, attend the sessions of the Court of First Instance, shall enforce proper decorum in the court room, and preserve good order in its precincts. To this end he shall carry into effect the orders of the court made in this behalf, or of the judge thereof, and shall arrest any person there disturbing the court or violating the peace. "(c) Except as otherwise specially provided, he shall, in person or by deputy, serve all writs, execute all processes, and carry into effect all orders issuing from the Court of First Instance or made by any judge thereof; and in the City of Manila the sheriff shall serve or execute civil writs, processes, and orders issued from the Supreme Court or any inferior or superior court or by a judge of any such court. Orders and processes in criminal cases from whatever court or by whatever judge issued, shall be served or executed in the City of Manila by members of the police department of the city, and in the provinces warrants of arrest in criminal cases shall be executed by members of the Philippine Constabulary or of the municipal police force, though the same may also be served or executed with equal effect by the sheriff."