{{short description|Defunct regional military police unit}} {{Use Philippine English|date=March 2023}} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2023}} {{Infobox military unit | unit_name = Philippine Constabulary Metropolitan Command | image = | dates = 1967–1991 | country = {{flag|Philippines|1936}} | allegiance = {{flag|Republic of the Philippines|1936}}<br>{{small|(1967–1991)}} | branch = Philippine Constabulary | type = Regional military police unit | role = | size = | command_structure = | garrison = Fort Bonifacio, Makati | garrison_label = | nickname = METROCOM (until 1986)<br>CAPCOM (when renamed as Capital Command, 1987–1991) | patron = | motto = | colors = | colors_label = | march = | mascot = | equipment = | equipment_label = | anniversaries = | decorations = | battle_honours = | disbanded = | battles = * Martial law in the Philippines * Mendiola massacre * 1987–1989 coups <!-- Commanders -->| commander1 = | commander1_label = | commander2 = | commander2_label = | commander3 = | commander3_label = | notable_commanders = * Brig Gen. Alfredo Montoya (mid-60s to 1970s) * Maj. Gen. Prospero Olivas (1980s) * Brig. Gen. Victor Natividad (acting, '84 to '86) * BGen. Ramon Montaño (CAPCOM) * BGen. Alexander Aguirre (CAPCOM) * BGen. Marino Filart (CAPCOM)
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The '''Philippine Constabulary (PC) Metropolitan Command''' or '''MetroCom''' was created pursuant to Executive Order of President Ferdinand Marcos on July 14, 1967, to supplement police forces within the Greater Manila Area and combat all forms of criminal activity.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1967/07/14/executive-order-no-76-s-1967/|title=Executive Order No. 76, s. 1967 {{!}} GOVPH|work=Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines|access-date=November 1, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref>
One of its notable unit was the Metrocom Intelligence and Security Group or MISG.
==Establishment and mission== In the late 1960s, mobile patrol coverage of the metropolitan Manila area was considered inadequate due to increasing crime which strained the capabilities of the local police forces. On July 14, 1967, President Ferdinand Marcos directed the organization of a special force to be known as the PC Metropolitan Command (MetroCom). It was to operate in the City of Manila, Quezon City, Caloocan and Pasay, and in the municipalities of Las Piñas, Malabon, Marikina, Makati, Mandaluyong, Navotas, Parañaque, Pasig, Pateros, San Juan, and Taguig.<ref name=":0" />
As crime continued to increase and become more severe in the greater Manila area, and smuggling and illegal fishing in Manila Bay became rampant, President Marcos issued Executive Order 120 on February 16, 1968, which expanded MetroCom into a Metropolitan Area Command (MAC).<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1968/02/16/executive-order-no-120-s-1968/|title=Executive Order No. 120, s. 1968 {{!}} GOVPH|work=Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines|access-date=November 1, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref> MetroCom proved to be an efficient force supporting the municipal and city police forces in the Manila area.
On July 8, 1974, President Marcos issued Presidential Decree No. 421, making MetroCom the basis for a regional police command for the future Metro Manila region.<ref>{{Cite web |title=P.D. No. 421 |url=https://lawphil.net/statutes/presdecs/pd1974/pd_421_1974.html |access-date=2024-09-22 |website=lawphil.net}}</ref> All local police departments within the capital area were joined under national government control as the Metropolitan Police Force (MPF) and overseen by the commander of MetroCom. On August 8, 1975, Presidential Decree 765 was issued to integrate the Philippine Constabulary with the Integrated National Police (INP) as a renewed service branch of the Armed Forces, not just for national defense but for the protection of public security and order. With this act, MetroCom and MPF were united under joint command.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://opinion.inquirer.net/79115/the-criminalization-of-the-pnp|title=The 'criminalization' of the PNP|last=ALMARIO|first=MANUEL F.|access-date=November 1, 2018|language=en}}</ref> By November 1975, with the formal designation of the National Capital Region, MetroCom was extended to cover what was then the municipality of Valenzuela.
== Dissolution and replacement == Following the People Power Revolution in 1986, the PC-INP was replaced by the Philippine National Police (PNP) by an act of Congress in 1991.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://opinion.inquirer.net/102589/authored-law-creating-pnp|title=Who authored law creating the PNP?|last=Farolan|first=Ramon|access-date=November 1, 2018|language=en}}</ref> From 1986 to 1991, in line with the democratization of the police forces, MetroCom was renamed the PC Capital Region Command (PC CAPCOM).<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |author1=Charlie Lagasca |author2=Ella Oducayen |author3=Marvin Sy |title=Is he the right Filart? |url=https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2000/02/20/94826/he-right-filart |access-date=2023-12-06 |website=Philstar.com}}</ref>
In 1992, it was again renamed the PNP Capital Region Command (PNP CAPCOM), one formerly led by General Mariano "Marino" Filart.<ref name=":1" /> PNP CAPCOM was renamed in mid-1990s as National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO).
==Equipment== The PC MetroCom used the Toyota Crown, the Datsun 2000, the Mini-Moke, and the ''Sakbayan''..<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.topgear.com.ph/features/feature-articles/the-definitive-history-of-ph-mobile-patrol-groups-a52-20180828-lfrm | title=The definitive history of PH mobile patrol groups }}</ref>
==Notable officials and officers==
=== Commanders, PC METROCOM/CAPCOM === *Brig Gen. Alfredo Montoya, MetroCom chief during the early days of Martial Law, and a "Rolex 12" member.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-09-21 |title=Marcos and his men: Who were the key Martial Law figures? |url=https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/iq/marcos-martial-law-key-martial-figures/ |access-date=2023-11-30 |website=RAPPLER |language=en-US}}</ref> (1967–1980) *Maj. Gen. Prospero Olivas, MetroCom chief at the time of the assassination of Ninoy Aquino on 21 August 1983. He was charged and tried along with several other high-ranking officials over the murder but was acquitted in 1985.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Our political and judicial impotence|url=https://opinion.inquirer.net/77658/our-political-and-judicial-impotence|work=Philippine Daily Inquirer|date=23 August 2002|access-date=2 July 2023|language=en-US}}</ref> He defected to dissident military forces during the overthrow of President Marcos in the People Power Revolution in 1986 but was retired shortly afterwards and was linked to attempts to overthrow the government of President Corazon Aquino.<ref>{{Cite news|title=The Final Report of the Fact-Finding Commission: IV: Military Intervention in the Philippines: 1986 – 1987|url=https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1990/10/03/the-final-report-of-the-fact-finding-commission-iv-military-intervention-in-the-philippines-1986-1987/|work=Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines|date=3 October 1990|access-date=2 July 2023|language=en-US}}</ref> He was already the chief by 1981.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Official Week in Review: August 10 – August 16, 1981 |url=https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1981/08/17/official-week-in-review-august-10-august-16-1981/}}</ref> (1980–1984)<ref name=":3">{{Cite news |title=Marcos's top general keeps finger on power |url=https://www.csmonitor.com/1984/1114/111449.html |access-date=2024-01-17 |work=Christian Science Monitor |issn=0882-7729}}</ref> *BGen. Victor Natividad (1984–1986)<ref name=":3" /> * BGen. Ramon Montaño, the commander of then renamed-Capital Command (CAPCOM). He is the commander when the Mendiola massacre happened and first part of coups against President Corazon Aquino. (1986–1989) * BGen. Alexander Aguirre, succeed General Montaño.<ref>{{Cite news |title=READ: SC ruling affirming detention of ex-soldier with pending court martial proceedings |work=ABS-CBN News |url=https://www.abs-cbn.com/focus/09/06/18/read-sc-ruling-affirming-detention-of-ex-soldier-with-pending-court-martial-proceedings}}</ref> (1989–1990) * BGen. Mariano "Marino" Filart, the last commander. (1990–1991)<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" />
=== Others ===
* Brig. Gen. Tomas Karingal, Chief of the MetroCom's Northern Police District (police unit for CAMANAVA area and then-includes Quezon City) from (1975–1984). He was assassinated by the New People's Army in 1984.<ref>{{cite news |last=Dioquino |first=Aaron Homer |date=25 May 2022 |title=QCPD commemorates 38th death anniversary of Gen. Karingal |publisher=Manila Bulletin |url=https://mb.com.ph/2022/05/25/qcpd-commemorates-38th-death-anniversary-of-gen-karingal/ |accessdate=2 July 2023}}</ref>
* Col. Rolando Abadilla, the commander of the Metrocom Intelligence and Security Group (MISG).<ref name=":2">{{Citation |title=Brigada Siete - Batas O Bala? (MISG, Philippine Constabulary, Kuratong Baleleng) FULL EPISODE |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5GdUsCmPNUM |access-date=2024-01-16 |language=en}}</ref>
* Panfilo Lacson, a former Senator and retired police officer who served in the MISG as its deputy commander.<ref name=":2" />
* Reynaldo Berroya, a deceased train administrator and retired police officer like Lacson, served in the MISG as its deputy commander.<ref name=":2" />
* Roberto "Bobby" Ortega, a deceased local government politician and retired police officer like Lacson and Berroya, served in the MISG as its deputy commander.<ref name=":2" />
==Sources==
*The Constable, July 1971 Edition
== References == <references />
{{Law enforcement in the Philippines}}
Category:Law enforcement in Metro Manila Category:History of Metro Manila Category:Establishments by Philippine executive order