Duterte wants return of PNP to Constabulary

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – President Duterte wants to revive the Philippine Constabulary (PC) and make the Philippine National Police (PNP) part of it to boost the fight against criminality and the drug menace.

The President cited the enormous task of law enforcers amid the threat of terrorism besetting the country and the rest of the world.

The PC, the first of the four service commands of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, was merged with the Integrated National Police during the Marcos regime. The PC-INP became the PNP on Jan. 29, 1991.

The constabulary was tasked to preserve peace and order and arrest law violators. It had inspectional supervision over municipal and city level police forces, fire departments and jail services.

The PC also assisted civil government and semi-government agencies in their missions.