GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF INVESTIGATION

DEFINITION OF INVESTIGATION 

Investigation is the collection of facts to accomplish a three-fold aim: 

a. to identify the suspect; 
b. to locate the suspect; and 
c. to provide evidence of his guilt. 

In the performance of his duties, the investigator must seek to establish the six (6)
cardinal points of investigation, namely: what specific offense has been committed; how
the offense was committed; who committed it; where the offense was committed;  when
it was committed; and why it was committed. 

PROTOCOLS IN INVESTIGATION

Protocol 1: Jurisdictional Investigation by the Territorial Unit Concerned 

The Police Station, which has territorial jurisdiction of the area where the crime incident
was committed, shall immediately undertake the necessary investigation and processing
of the crime scene, unless otherwise directed by higher authorities for a certain case to
be investigated by other units/agency. 

Protocol 2: Official Police Blotter 

a. A Police Blotter is an 18” x 12” logbook with hard-bound cover that contains the
daily register of all crime incident reports, official summary of arrests, and other
significant events reported in a police station. 

b. As a general rule, all crime incidents must be recorded in the official police blotter. 

c. A separate Police Blotter, however, shall be maintained for offenses requiring

confidentiality like violence against women and children and those cases involving a
child in conflict with the law to protect their privacy 
pursuant to R.A. 9262 (Anti-Violence Against Women and Children Act of 2004) and
R.A. 9344 (Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006)

d. The duty police officer shall record the nature of the incident in the police blotter
containing the five “W”s (who, what, where, when and why) and one “H” (how) of the
information and inform his superior officer or the duty officer regarding the occurrence of
such incident. 

e. In answering the above 5 Ws and 1 H and the Case Disposition, all such material
details about the incident, including the nature of the action or offense; the Date, Time,
and Place of Occurrence; the names of the suspect/s, the victim/s, the witness/es, if any;
facts of the case; significant circumstances that aggravate or mitigate the event or the
crime should be entered along with the identity of the officer to whom the case is
assigned (Officer-on-case); and, the status of the case. 
Protocol 3: Investigation Team: Organization and Equipment 
a. All investigators in any police unit must be a graduate of prescribed investigation
course with a rank of at least PO2 (pre-requisite to assignment). 

b. Composition: 

1. Team Leader; 
2. Investigator/recorder; 
3. Photographer; 
4. Evidence custodian; and 
5. Composite Illustrator/Artist 

c. Equipment of the investigator: 

1. Police line; 
2. Video camera; 
3. Voice recorder; 
4. Camera; 
5. Measuring device; 
6. Gloves; 
7. Flashlight; 
8. Fingerprint kit; 
9. Evidence bag; 
10. Evidence tag; 
11. Evidence bottles/vials; and 
12. Investigator‟s tickler (contains the following) 
a) Investigator‟s checklist 
b) Anatomical diagram form 
c) Evidence checklist 
d) Turn-over receipt 

Protocol 4: Duties of the First Responder 

a. Proceed to the crime scene to validate the information received; 

b. Record the exact time of arrival and all pertinent data regarding the incident in his
issued pocket notebook and notify the TOC; 

c. Cordon off the area and secure the crime scene with a police line or whatever
available material like ropes, straws or human as barricade to preserve its integrity; 

d. Check whether the situation still poses imminent danger and call for back up if
necessary; 

e. Identify possible witnesses and conduct preliminary interview and ensure their
availability for the incoming investigator-on-case;
f. Arrest the suspect/s if around or in instances wherein the suspect/s is fleeing, make
appropriate notification for dragnet operations;

g. Prepare to take the “Dying Declaration” of severely injured persons with the
following requisites: 

1. That death is imminent and the declarant is conscious of that 

fact; 
2. That the declaration refers to the cause and surrounding circumstances of such
death; 
3. That the declaration relates to facts which the victim is competent to testify to; and 
4. That the declaration is offered in a case wherein the declarant‟s death is the subject
of the inquiry. (Section 37, Rule 130 of the Rules of Court). 

h. Evacuate the wounded to the nearest hospital using emergency services; 

h. Account for the killed, wounded and arrested persons for proper disposition; 

i. Conduct initial investigation; and 

j. Brief the investigator-on-case upon arrival and turn over the crime scene

l. Conduct inventory on the evidence taken at the crime scene; Inventory receipt should
be properly signed by the first responder, SOCO and the investigator. 

Protocol 5: Duties and responsibilities of the Investigating Team 

a. Take full control of the crime scene to include the conduct of crime scene search;
taking of photographs; making sketches; lifting of fingerprints; markings of
physical evidence; (Chain of custody) the transmittal of evidence to crime
laboratory; interview of witnesses; gathering and evaluation of evidence; follow-
up of the case and the documentation and filing of appropriate charges in court. 

b. Establish a command post in the immediate vicinity of the crime scene; 

c. Designate a holding area in the immediate vicinity of the crime scene (for the media,
VIP‟s and other personalities present); 

d. Conduct case conference with the first responder, SOCO, other law enforcers and
rescue personnel; 
e. Note any secondary crime scene (if situation requires); and 

f. Release the crime scene after investigation. 

Protocol 6: Investigation of Suspects 

a. Procedures when arrest is made 

1. Secure the person arrested (handcuff at the back); 

2. Inform the arrested person on the cause of his arrest and his rights as provided for in
the Constitution; 
3. Conduct thorough search for weapons and other illegal materials against the
suspect/s; 
4. Use reasonable force in making arrest; 
5. Confiscated evidence shall be properly documented and marked; 
6. Bring the arrested person to the Police Station for investigation.

b. Booking procedures of the Arrested Person/Suspect  

1. The arrested suspect shall be fingerprinted, photographed and subjected to medical
examination to include liquor and drug tests. 
2. Conduct record check. 

Protocol 7: Taking of Sworn Statements of Suspects 

The execution of a suspect‟s “WAIVER” as stipulated in Art 125 of the RPC shall always
be done in the presence of his chosen counsel or any independent counsel. 

Protocol 8: Taking of Sworn Statement/s of the Witnesses 

a. Sworn Statement or Affidavit of complainant/s and witness/es must be taken
immediately by the investigator-on-case. 
b. Affidavit of Arrest of arresting officers must be taken immediately not later than 24
hours. 
c. In Inquest cases, the investigator-on-case and the arresting 
officer/s shall observe Art. 125 of the RPC. 

Protocol 9: Preparation of Reports and Filing of Charges 

The Investigator-On-Case shall submit the following: 
a. Spot Report within 24 hrs to HHQ; 
b. Progress Report; 
c. After Operation Report; 
d. Final Report after the case is filed before the prosecutor‟s office/court; and 
e. Accomplishment Report.

Protocol 10: Procedure in the Release of Crime Scene 

a. Ensure that appropriate inventory has been made; 
b. Release is accomplished only after completion of the final survey and proper
documentation of evidence, witness/es, victim/s and suspect/s; and 
c. If the crime scene is within a private property, the same must be released to the lawful
owner witnessed by any barangay official. In case of government facility, it should be
released to the administrator.
Protocol 11: Follow-up of Case 
The investigator shall conduct police operation to identify and apprehend suspect/s
based on the results of the initial investigation conducted. 

Protocol 12: Preparation of Case Investigation Plan (CIPLAN) 

The conduct of police operation involving sensational cases, high profile and heinous
crimes must be covered by Case Investigation Plan. 

Protocol 13: Attendance to Court Duties 

The investigator-on-case and arresting officers shall endeavor to ensure their
attendance during court hearings while COPs/Heads of Units shall supervise and ensure
the attendance of witness/es. 

Protocol 14: Uniform of the Investigator 

Prescribed uniform should be worn by investigators when conducting 
investigation so as to identify them as PNP personnel. 

TOOLS OF AN INVESTIGATOR IN GATHERING FACTS

a. Information – Data gathered by an investigator from other persons including the victim
himself and from: 
1. Public records; 
2. Private records; and 
3. Modus Operandi file. 

b. Interview – Skillful questioning of witnesses and suspects. 

c. Instrumentation – Scientific examination of real evidence, application of instrument

and methods of the physical sciences in detecting crime. 

PHASES OF INVESTIGATIONS

The main objective of a police investigator is to gather all facts in order to: 

Phase I Identify the suspect/s through (1) confession; (2) eyewitness testimony, (3)
circumstantial evidence; and (4) associate evidence;
Phase II 
Locate and apprehend suspect/s; and 

Phase III 
Gather and provide evidence to establish the guilt of the accused. 
In proving the guilt of the accused in court, the fact of the existence of the crime must be
established; the accused must be identified and associated with the crime scene;
competent and credible witnesses must be available; and the physical evidence must be
appropriately identified. The investigator must know by heart the elements of a specific
crime. 
STANDARD METHODS OF RECORDING INVESTIGATIVE DATA 
a. Photographs; 
b. Sketching crime scenes; 
c. Written notes (what you have seen or observed); 
d. Developing and lifting fingerprints found at the crime scene; 
e. Gathering physical evidence; 
f. Plaster cast; 
g. Tape recording of sounds; 
h. Video tape recording of objects; and 
i. Written statements of subject(s) and witnesses. 

CRIME SCENE PROCESSING 

a. The Crime Scene Search 

1. Processing and Securing a Crime Scene – Processing a crime scene includes the
application of diligent and careful methods by an investigator/policemen to recognize,
identify, preserve and collect fact and items of evidentiary value that may assist in
reconstructing that which actually occurred. The crime scene is the area surrounding the
place where the crime occurred. The processing of the area at the scene includes all
direct traces of the crime. And this is determined by the type of crime committed and the
place where the act occurred.

2. Protecting the Crime Scene and the Evidence – Successful crimes scene
processing depends upon the policeman‟s or investigator‟s skill in recognizing
and collecting facts and items of value as evidence, and upon his ability to
protect, preserve, and later, to present these in a logical manner. This requires
making careful and detailed notes and sketches; written statements and
transcribing verbal statements of witnesses, suspects and marking and
preservation of collected physical objects of evidentiary nature. 

3. Laboratory examination of objects and substances located usually at the crime

scene. Objects and substances needing examination in some cases are carried,
intentionally or unintentionally, by suspects from the crime scene. 

PROCEDURES
Upon receipt of call/walk-in complainants 
Duty Desk Officer shall: 
a. Record the time it was reported; 
b. Get the identity of the caller/complainant; 
c. Get the place of the incident; 
d. Get the nature of the incident; 
e. Get the number of victim/s; 
f. Record a brief synopsis of the incident; 
g. Direct the nearest mobile car/beat patrollers or the nearest police precinct to act as
first responder equipped with “police line” to secure the place of incident a camera; and 
g. Inform the duty investigator (preferably one team of investigators). 
At the crime scene 
The First Responder shall perform his/her duty as stated in Chapter I Protocol 4.

In addition, check the condition of the victim while the other members of the first
responders shall simultaneously secure the area by putting a police line or any material
(like rope, straw and etc). 

a. If in serious condition 
1. Bring the victim immediately to the nearest hospital using emergency services; 
2. Photograph and make a sketch of the victim (if the victim is dead); 
3. Get the dying declaration; if necessary (ask 3 questions) 

a) Ano ang pangalan at address mo? 

b) Kilala mo ba ang gumawa nito sa iyo? 
c) Sa pakiramdam mo ba ay ikamamatay mo ang tinamo mong sugat? 

However, if there is still a chance to ask more questions, then follow-up should be done.
The statement, once reduced into writing, shall be duly signed by or with thumb mark of
the victim. 

b. If not in serious condition 

1. Bring the victim immediately to the nearest hospital using emergency services; 
2. Get the identity and other data of the victim; 
3. Get initial interview from the victim 

Note: The other member/s of the first responders shall remain at the crime scene to
secure the premises. 

c. If the suspect is arrested at the scene  

1. Get the names of the persons who turned-over or arrested the suspect. 
2. Isolate the arrested suspect/s and separate them from any probable witness of the
incident. 
3. Record what time the suspect was arrested. 
4. Wait for the investigator to interview the suspect. 
5. If the suspect volunteers any statement, take note of the time, location and
circumstances of the statements.

Investigation Procedure at the Crime Scene 

a. Upon arrival at the crime scene 
1. Receive the crime scene from the first responder. 
2. Record time/date of arrival at the crime scene, location of the scene, condition of the
weather, condition and type of lighting, direction of wind and visibility. 
3. Photograph and/or video the entire crime scene. 
4. Before entering the crime scene, all investigators must put on surgical gloves. 
5. Before touching or moving any object at the crime scene in a homicide or murder
case, determine first the status of the victim, whether he is still alive or already dead. If
the victim is alive, the investigator should exert effort to gather information from the
victim himself regarding the circumstances of the crime, while a member of the team or
someone must call an ambulance from the nearest hospital. Before removing the victim,
mark, sketch and photograph his/her relative position. Only a coroner or a medical
examiner shall remove the dead 
body unless unusual circumstances justify its immediate removal. 
6. Designate a member of the team or ask other policemen or responsible persons to
stand watch and secure the scene, and permit only authorized persons to enter the
same. 
7. Identify and retain for questioning the person who first notified the police, and other
possible witnesses. 
8. Determine the assailant through inquiry or observe him if his identity is immediately
apparent. Arrest him if he is still in the vicinity. 
9. Separate witnesses in order to get independent statements. 
b. Recording 

The investigator begins the process of recording pertinent facts and details of the
investigation the moment he arrives at the crime scene. (He should record the time when
he was initially notified prior to his arrival). He also writes down the identification of
persons involved and what he initially saw. He also draws a basic sketch of the crime
scene and takes the initial photograph (if a photographer is available, avail his services).
This is to ensure that an image of the crime scene is recorded before any occurrence
that disturbs the scene. As a rule, do not touch, alter or remove anything at the crime
scene until the evidence has been processed through notes, sketches and photograph,
with proper measurements.