REPUBLIC ACT NO. 5750 - AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE QUALIFICATIONS, SELECTION AND APPOINTMENT OF CIVILIAN INVESTIGATION AGENTS OF THE CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION SERVICE, PHILIPPINE CONSTABULARY, AND DEFINING THEIR POWERS AS PEACE OFFICERS.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. No person shall be appointed as civilian investigation agent of the Criminal Investigation Service, Philippine Constabulary, unless he possesses the following qualifications:

He must be a holder of a bachelor's degree from a school recognized by the Government, preferably law or commerce graduate;

He must be physically fit, mentally alert and of good moral character;

He must not have been convicted by final judgment of any crime, involving moral turpitude;

He must have passed an examination to be given by the Department of National Defense, approved by the Civil Service Commission, and shall also qualify in a psychiatric examination to determine his mental and emotional fitness to be given by the Criminal Investigation Service.

SEC. 2. No person shall be appointed as Deputy Chief CIS for Investigation, unless he is a Degree Holder, preference being given to a member of the Philippine Bar, and must have at least ten (10) years experience in investigation work in the CIS, NBI and other criminal investigation agencies of the Government.

SEC. 3. The positions of Investigation Agents, Senior Investigation Agents, Supervising Agents and Deputy-Chief CIS for investigation, are hereby declared to be in the unclassified service.

SEC. 4. Civilian investigation agents of the Criminal Investigation Service who, without having the qualifications required in Section 1 of this Act, were already appointed and are still in the service, shall be given a period of eight years within which to qualify in accordance with the requirements herein provided.

SEC. 5. Persons appointed as Investigation Agents of the Criminal Investigation Service are peace officers and as such shall have the following powers:

To make arrests, searches and seizures in accordance with existing laws and rules;

To take sworn statements of persons in relation to cases under investigation;

To possess the necessary or adequate firearms for their personal protection in connection with their duties, and for the protection of witnesses or persons under custody: Provided , That previous special permit or license for such possession shall be required.

SEC. 6. The Chief and Deputy Chief of the CIS shall have the power to administer oaths upon cases under investigation and to issue subpoena or subpoena duces tecurn for the appearance at government expense of any person for investigation or production of documents and other matters therein.

SEC. 7. All laws, parts of laws, rules and regulations inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed.

SEC. 8. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Enacted into law without executive signature on June 21, 1969.