CHECKPOINT

The establishment of checkpoints

must always be authorized by the PNP and
manned by uniformed PNP personnel
assigned in the area. Other units directly
involved in an operation may establish
mobile checkpoints in coordination with the
Commander of the Unit/Station in the area.
 What is Checkpoint?
It is the place where
the military or police check
vehicular or pedestrian
traffic in order to enforce
circulation control
measures and other laws,
orders, and regulations
which involves only a brief
detention of travelers'
during which the vehicle’s
occupants are required to
answer a brief question or
two.
 What is Hasty Checkpoint?
It is an immediate
response to block the escape
of lawless elements from a
crime scene, and is also
established when nearby
checkpoints are ignored or
during hot pursuit operations.
It is set up by police personnel
conducting mobile patrol on
board a marked police vehicle,
or those conducting ISO and
foot patrol operations within
the vicinity/periphery of the
national or provincial
highways.
 What is the composition of
Checkpoint Team?

It shall be composed of, but not limited to, the

following:
Team Leader, Spotter, Spokesperson, Investigation
Sub-Team, Search/Arresting Sub-Team, Security Sub-
Team and Blocking/Pursuing Sub-Team.
 What procedures to be followed in
conducting Regular Police Checkpoint?
1. Unit Commanders should inform Higher Headquarters (HHQs)
Tactical Operations Center (TOC) and coordinate with adjacent
units, such as CPS, MPS, NSUs, Public Safety Management Forces,
and other friendly forces, personally or through an official
representative, before commencing with checkpoint to avoid
misencounter and any untoward incident;

2. The Team Leader shall brief the PNP personnel, as well as the
civilian components present, including the media regarding the
proper conduct of the checkpoint and their assigned tasks prior to
their deployment;
3. The Team Leader shall initially
account for the PNP personnel and
check if they are in the prescribed
uniform. PNP personnel conducting the
checkpoint shall display their
nameplates at all times. If wearing a
jacket, the flap of the jacket bearing
their names should also be displayed,
Likewise, the equipment will include,
but not limited to, the following:
Marked Patrol vehicles; Firearms with
basic load of ammunition; Handheld
and vehicle base radios; Flashlights;
Megaphone; and Signage. The signage
contains the warning signs (e.g. Slow
Down Checkpoint Ahead, Checkpoint
20 Meters Ahead, etc…) and
information Signs such as Name of the
Unit and Team Leader, etc…
4. The Spotter of the team will be pre-positioned in a place
where he can best point/profile suspected vehicles prior to their
approach to the checkpoint;

5. Search/Arresting Sub-Team shall flag down suspected vehicles

and conduct search, seizure and arrest if necessary;
6. Arrested persons and seized items shall be turned-over to the
investigation sub-team for documentation and proper disposition;

7. In the event that the checkpoint is ignored, and the occupant of the
vehicle open fire on the personnel manning the checkpoint,
reasonable force to overcome the suspects’ aggression may be
employed;
8. Inform Higher
Headquarters before
terminating the
conduct of Checkpoint;

9. The Team Leader

shall conduct
debriefing of personnel
after termination of the
checkpoint; and

10. Unit Commander

shall submit After
Activity Report to
Higher Headquarters.
What procedures to be followed in conducting Hasty
Checkpoint?

1. PNP personnel conducting mobile patrols on board patrol

vehicles will initially man the checkpoint, to be complemented by
additional personnel upon arrival of reinforcement. A collapsible
signage with markings: “Stop, Police Checkpoint”, indicating also
the name of the concerned police office/unit conducting the
operations, will be used for the purpose;
2. In the case of PNP personnel conducting
Internal Security Operation (ISO) or foot patrol,
where a vehicle and collapsible signage is not
readily available, the checkpoint shall be
manned initially by said personnel;

3. The team shall immediately inform Higher

Headquarters of the exact location of the Hasty
Checkpoint to include personnel involved and
available equipment;
4.In a hasty checkpoint, where there is a possibility of high risk
stop and high risk arrest, and that there is an urgency for troop
deployment and that public safety might be at risk, the
participation of the civilian component and the presence of the
media in the checkpoint operation shall not be allowed;

5. The Unit Commander of the personnel manning the hasty

checkpoint shall immediately send additional personnel,
equipment and signage to the area in order to convert the Hasty
Checkpoint into a Regular Checkpoint; and

6. As soon as the Hasty Checkpoint is converted into a Regular

Checkpoint, Team Leader shall follow the procedures on
Section 4 paragraph C of the Police Operational Procedure.
 What procedures to be followed when checkpoint are
ignored?
When checkpoints are ignored, the
following shall be observed:
1. In the event that the
checkpoints/roadblocks are ignored
and the motorist/suspects bumped
the roadblock in an attempt to elude
arrest or avoid inspection, the Team
Leader shall immediately contact
adjacent units to inform them of the
situation so that these units can
conduct dragnet operation, while the
members of the blocking/pursuing
team shall block or pursue the errant
fleeing motorist;
2. Warning shots shall not be allowed
due to the confusion it may create to the
driver and passengers of the vehicle.
Megaphones or police sirens shall be
used instead during the pursuit. The
plate number of the vehicle shall be
noted and given to the other units in
adjacent areas to prevent the possibility
that the vehicle may elude the pursuit
operation; and

3. In the event that the occupants of the

vehicle open fire on the personnel
manning the checkpoint, reasonable
force to overcome the suspects’
aggression may be employed.
 What procedures to be followed in Flagging
Down or Accosting Vehicle while in Mobile Car?
1. Call Headquarters to inform of the
make or type and plate number of the
motor vehicle to be accosted including
the number and, if possible, identity of
occupants;

2. State the reason(s) for the planned

intervention of the suspected motor
vehicle;

3. Give mobile car’s location and its

direction before making actual
intervention;
 What procedures to be followed in Flagging
Down or Accosting Vehicle while in Mobile Car?

4. Try to get alongside the suspects’

vehicle and check the occupants
without alarming them of your purpose.
You can even overtake the vehicle and
wait for it at an advantageous location
before stopping the suspects’ vehicle;

5. Determine whether the suspects are

hostile or not;

6. Make known to the suspect that you

are after them through the use of a siren
or megaphone;
 What procedures to be followed in Flagging
Down or Accosting Vehicle while in Mobile Car?

7. Instruct the driver to full over or stop

on the side of the road;

8. Park behind the suspect’s vehicle at

an appropriate distance and cautiously
approach the vehicle on the driver’s
side;

9. If the vehicle’s windows are heavily

tinted and the occupants cannot be
seen, instruct the driver to open all
windows to have a clear view of the
interior of the vehicle;
 What procedures to be followed in Flagging
Down or Accosting Vehicle while in Mobile Car?
10. Instruct the driver to turn off the
ignition, if this was not done when the
vehicle stopped;

11. The other members of the team must

be on guard for any eventuality while
the vehicle is being approached;

12. Talk to the driver in most courteous

manner and inform him of the nature of
his violation. Demand to see the
driver’s license, photocopies of the LTO
certificate of registration and LTO official receipt. Examine these
documents and counter-check the driver on the information reflected
therein;
 What procedures to be followed in Flagging
Down or Accosting Vehicle while in Mobile Car?
13. If it concerns traffic violations,
immediately issue a Temporary
Operators Permit (TOP), Traffic
Citation Ticket (TCT), or Traffic
Violation Receipt (TVR). Never indulge
in prolonged, unnecessary conversation
or argument with the driver or any of
the vehicle’s occupants;

14. In cases of other violations that

require the impounding of the vehicle,
inform the driver regarding this
situation and instruct him to follow you
to Police Station, after issuing the
TOP/TCT/TVR; and
 What procedures to be followed in Flagging
Down or Accosting Vehicle while in Mobile Car?

15. Before moving

out, inform
Headquarters
regarding the
situation/status and
disposition of the
person and motor
vehicle accosted.
 What procedures to follow in dealing with Hostile
Situation?

A. For Stopping Vehicles:

1. Call Headquarters to inform of the make or type and
plate number of the motor vehicle to be accosted
including the number and, if possible, identity of
occupants;

2. State the reason(s) for the planned intervention of

the suspected motor vehicle;

3. Give mobile car’s location and its direction before

making actual intervention;
 What procedures to follow in dealing with Hostile
Situation?

A. For Stopping Vehicles:

4. Immediately request for back-up;

5. Follow the suspect and always keep him

within visual range;

6. Expect that the suspect will notice your

action at any time. Be prepared for a car chase
or actual hostile confrontation;
 What procedures to follow in dealing with Hostile
Situation?

A. For Stopping Vehicles:

7. If the back-up is already in the vicinity, inform

Headquarters that you are proceeding to accost
the suspect;

8. Inform the suspects that you are after them through

the use of siren or megaphone and instruct the
driver to pull over or stop on the side of the street;

9. Park at an appropriate distance behind the suspect’s

vehicle;
 What procedures to follow in dealing with Hostile
Situation?

A. For Stopping Vehicles:

10. While the vehicle is being approached, the other
members of the crew and back-up must be on
guard for any eventuality, Overreactions should be
avoided;
11.If the vehicle’s windows are heavily tinted and the
occupants cannot be seen, instruct the driver to
open all windows for a clear view of the vehicle’s
interior;
12.Direct the driver and the other occupants of the
vehicle not to make unnecessary movements and
to show their hands outside the car;
 What procedures to follow in dealing with Hostile
Situation?

A. For Stopping Vehicles:

13. Instruct the driver to turn off the ignition and toss
the key to the ground. Demand to see the Driver’s
License and photocopies of the LTO Certificate of
Registration and LTO Official Receipt. Examine
the documents and counter check the driver on the
information reflected therein; and

14. If there are other suspects aside from the driver,

separate them from one another.
 What procedures to follow in dealing with Hostile
Situation?

B. For FLEEING Vehicles:

1. In the event that the motor vehicle did not stop

despite the warning given, inform Headquarters
or adjacent units so that roadblocks or hasty
checkpoints can be set-up;
2. Call Headquarters to inform of the make or type,
plate number and color of the motor vehicle to be
accosted including the number of occupants and,
if possible, their identity;
3. State the reason(s) for flagging down the suspected
motor vehicle;
 What procedures to follow in dealing with Hostile
Situation?
B. For FLEEING Vehicles:
4.Give mobile car’s location and its direction before
making actual intervention;
5. When the vehicle of the suspect is cornered or
stopped, instruct the driver and other occupants in a
clear and commanding voice to follow specifically
what you will require of them. Failure on their part to
follow will be construed as a hostile act on their part.
Execute instructions on the use of reasonable force;
6. Instruct the driver to turn off the ignition and toss the
key to the ground, open the door and step out of the
vehicle, followed by his hands to be placed on top of
the vehicle, or to move towards you with his hands
up;
 What
Whatprocedures
procedurestotofollow
followinindealing
dealingwith
withHostile
Hostile
Situation?
Situation?
B. For FLEEING Vehicles:

7. Instruct other occupants of the vehicle, if any, to

come out one by one, and follow what the driver
has been instructed to do earlier;

8. Arrest, handcuff and search the suspects and bring

them to Headquarters for proper disposition; and

9. Before moving out, inform Headquarters about the

situation, status and disposition of the suspects
and motor vehicle accosted.
 What to do in case of High Risk Stop and High Risk
Arrest?
Initial Stage:

1. Organize appropriate tactical security forces

utilizing maximum firepower and armor assets;

2. Deploy the security forces to stopping zones in

defensive position; and

3. Seal off the area and establish strong

roadblocks/barricades.
What to do in case of High Risk Stop and High Risk
Arrest?
Effecting a High Risk Stop:

1. Exert utmost effort to persuade the suspects to halt

or stop their movement;

2. Start with the procedural conduct of regular

warrantless arrest where arrest is inevitable;

3. Ensure proper documentation of the process; and

4. Respect the rights of all the persons involved.

What to do in case of High Risk Stop and High Risk
Arrest?

During Violent Stage:

The PNP shall strictly adhere to the PNP

Operational Procedures particularly on
the use of reasonable force.
High Risk Stop and High Risk Arrest
 QUESTIONS:

1. What is Checkpoint?
2. What is the composition of Checkpoint and
how each member functions?

3. When is hasty checkpoint done?