Preamble
WHEREAS, Republic Act No. 4864, otherwise known as the Police Act of 1966, and Presidential Decrees No. 12 and 12-A as amended, were enacted with the primordial purpose of strengthening and upgrading the local police forces all over the country; WHEREAS, in order to accelerate the attainment of the objectives of the aforecited laws and to provide more responsive police service, it is imperative that certain provisions of the same be amended; WHEREAS, in order to enable the National Police Commission to discharge more effectively, its supervisory and disciplinary responsibility over members of local police agencies, it is imperative that the Commission be empowered to issue subpoena and subpoena duces tecum and to authorize some of its officers to exercise the general powers of peace officers while actually engaged in police investigation; WHEREAS, in order to provide flexibility in the matter of appointment to the police service consistent with the policy of recruiting the most capable men to the service, it is advisable that a system of waiver be established in appointment to the police force, and that the minimum age, height and weight requirements for appointment be fixed at a more realistic level; WHEREAS, in order to provide security and incentive to the staff of the Commission, it is advisable that compensation benefits be extended to officials and employees of the latter who die or incur disability in line of duty; WHEREAS, in order to accelerate the investigation of police administrative cases and claims for death and disability benefits, it is necessary that the Boards of Investigators as organized under the Police Act of 1966 and Presidential Decree No. 12, as amended, be replaced by full-time hearing officers; NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution, do hereby decree and order: