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Sergeant-at-Arms of the House of Representatives of the Philippines

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Sergeant-at-Arms of the House of Representatives of the Philippines
Incumbent
Napoleon C. Taas
since July 25, 2022
House of Representatives of the Philippines
StyleThe Honorable
SeatBatasang Pambansa Complex, Batasan Hills, Quezon City
AppointerElected by the House of Representatives
Salary₱2,270,000 per year (2023)[1]

The sergeant-at-arms of the House of Representatives of the Philippines is an officer of the Philippine House of Representatives, whose duty is to ensure order within the House of Representatives Building Complex—the seat of the lower chamber of Congress—enforce the Rules of the House, and protect the lives of its officers, members, personnel, guests, and the property within its premises. The Mace of the House—serving as its symbol of authority—situated at the foot of the Speaker’s Rostrum during sessions, is also in their custody, acting as the warrant empowering the Sergeant-at-Arms to enforce order in the floor of the chamber upon the Speaker’s directive.

Powers and duties

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House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. and Sergeant-at-Arms Nicasio J. Radovan Jr., holding the House Mace, at the closing of the Third Regular Session of the 15th Congress.

According to Rule VII, Section 20 of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the duties and powers of the Sergeant-at-Arms are:

  • To attend all sessions of the House unless excused by the Speaker or the Presiding Officer, and personally or through his designee(s), all meetings of the committees;
  • To strictly enforce rules relating to admission to the session hall, the galleries, offices, corridors and premises of the House building;
  • To ensure that employees under the office of the Sergeant-at-Arms observe proper behavior and faithfully perform their duties;
  • To implement orders and serve all processes issued by authority of the House or by the Speaker;
  • To secure and maintain order in the session hall, galleries, offices, corridors and premises of the House building during sessions, during the conduct of meetings of committees and during such other proceedings or activities of the House whether or not the House is in session;
  • To secure the safety of the Members while in the House premises or in any other place as the Speaker may direct;
  • To secure the properties of the House;
  • To recommend and implement upon the direction of the Speaker, security management systems, policies and programs that will ensure the maintenance of order in the House and its premises, protect the safety of the Members and employees, visitors and other persons who are within the premises of the House on official business, and the preservation of properties, equipment, facilities, documents and records of the House; and
  • To act as custodian of the Mace, which shall be the symbol of authority and shall be borne by the Sergeant-at-Arms while enforcing order on the floor.

Section 21 also states that "the Sergeant-at-Arms shall prepare and submit to the House, through the Speaker, at the end of every fiscal year, a performance report relative to programs and activities relating to the security and maintenance of order in the House."

List

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The following persons served as Sergeant-at-Arms of the House of Representatives:

Name Term start Term end Legislature Refs.
Name Order
Narciso Diokno May 25, 1946 1949 House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of the Philippines 2nd Commonwealth Congress
House of Representatives of the Republic of the Philippines 1st Congress [1]
Antonio C. Garcia 1949 1954 2nd Congress
Narciso Diokno 1954 1962 3rd Congress
4th Congress
Simeon D. Salonga 1962 September 23, 1972 5th Congress
6th Congress
7th Congress
Raoul V. Cauton June 12, 1978 1979 Batasang Pambansa Interim Batasang Pambansa [1]
Anselmo S. Avenido Jr. 1979 184
Cesar P. Pobre 1984 March 25, 1986 Regular Batasang Pambansa
Serapio P. Taccad July 27, 1987 July 27, 1992 House of Representatives of the Republic of the Philippines 8th Congress [1]
Bayani N. Fabic July 27, 1992 2008 9th Congress
10th Congress
11th Congress
12th Congress
13th Congress
14th Congress
Horacio T. Lactao 2008 July 26, 2010
Nicasio J. Radovan July 26, 2010 July 25, 2016 15th Congress
16th Congress
Roland Detabali July 25, 2016 July 30, 2018 17th Congress [2]
Romeo C. Prestoza July 30, 2018 July 22, 2019
Ramon C. Apolinario July 22, 2019 October 12, 2020 18th Congress [3]
Mao Aplasca October 12, 2020 December 6, 2021 [4]
Rodelio B. Jocson December 6, 2021 July 25, 2022 [5]
Napoleon C. Taas July 25, 2022 present 19th Congress [6]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "House Secretaries and Secretary-Generals". The Hrep Reference Librarian. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
  2. ^ "Arroyo's ex-PSG commander Prestoza named new House sergeant-at-arms - POLITIKO". politiko.com.ph. July 30, 2018. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
  3. ^ "Ex-PNP no. 2 man Apolinario is new House sergeant-at-arms - POLITIKO". politiko.com.ph. July 22, 2019. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
  4. ^ Colcol, Erwin (October 12, 2020). "Pro-Velasco solons elect House SecGen, Sergeant-at-Arms". GMA News Online. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
  5. ^ "House elects new sergeant-at-arms". GMA News Online. December 6, 2021. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
  6. ^ Peralta-Malonzo, Third Anne (July 25, 2022). "19th Congress officially opens". SunStar Publishing Inc. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
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