The Philippine Constabulary (abbreviated PC; Filipino: Hukbóng Pamayapŕ ng Pilipinas, HPP) was a gendarmerie-type police force of the Philippines from 1901 to 1991. It was created by the American colonial government to replace the Spanish colonial Guardia Civil.[1] It was the first of the four service commands of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. On January 29, 1991, it was merged with the Integrated National Police to form the Philippine National Police.
A gendarmerie or gendarmery (/dʒɛnˈdɑːrməri/ or /ʒɑːnˈdɑːrməri/) is a military component with jurisdiction in civil law enforcement. The term "gendarmerie" is derived from the medieval French expression gens d'armes, which translates to "armed men".[1] In France and most Francophone nations, the gendarmerie is the branch of the armed forces responsible for internal security during wartime.