Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo revealed on Tuesday that the Supreme Court has already promulgated the rules on the use of body-worn cameras, or body cams, in the service of arrest and search warrants by law enforcers.
Gesmundo made the announcement during the hybrid oath-taking of newly elected officers of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP).
“As our police authorities have publicly announced the use of body-worn cameras in their operations, the Court promulgated A.M. [Administrative Matter] 00-5-03-SC, the Rules on the Use of Body-Worn Cameras, which adopted this innovation in the service of arrest and search warrants, while maintaining the delicate balance between the constitutional rights of persons involved and the efficient operations of law enforcement officers,” Gesmundo said.
However, SC spokesman Brian Keith Hosaka said the Court en banc has yet to release the said rules.
“The same is still being finalized by the justices. We will immediately inform you once it is available,” Hosaka told reporters. Hosaka said he has no information as to when the rules were promulgated.
Last month, Gesmundo told reporters that the magistrates would be amending its Rules of Criminal Procedure to adopt a provision on the use of body cams in the enforcement of court-issued search and arrest warrants.
Gesmundo added the amended rules would likely be finalized and implemented by July.
He said Associate Justice Marvic Leonen, who was assigned by the Court to study the matter, had submitted a working draft to the Court en banc on the proposed revisions.
The proposed revisions were scheduled to be discussed by the Court en banc last June 15 since the justices have already submitted their respective inputs on the matter.
“So, we hope with the issuance of these tools on body-worn cameras, these issues will be addressed. It’s in the works and by July perhaps we will have the final version and we will approve it for implementation immediately,” the chief magistrate earlier said.
The amendment of the rules was approved by the Court following calls from various law groups seeking Court’s action on the series of killings allegedly perpetrated by police officers during service of warrants.
The proposal to compel law enforcers to wear body cams in the service of arrest and search warrants was aired following the death of nine activists and the arrest of several others in the simultaneous police and military operations conducted in the provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas and Rizal (Calabarzon) on March 7, 2021. Joel R. San Juan
The wearing of body cams, according to its proponents, would prevent speculations of summary killings or EJKs against law enforcers in case a shootout happens during service of warrants and result in deaths.
Meanwhile, Gesmundo said the Court needs the support of the new officers and members of the IBP now more than ever amid all the challenges that the Judiciary is facing right now, such as the pandemic.
Among the IBP’s new set of officers are incoming IBP National President Burt Estrada; Governor-Elect, Eastern Visayas Region and Executive Vice-President- Elect, Antonio C. Pido; Governor-Elect, Northern Luzon, Lucky M. Damasen; Governor-Elect, Central Luzon Region, Peter Paul S. Maglalang; Governor-Elect, Greater Manila Region, Marcelino Michael I. Atanante II; Governor-Elect, Southern Luzon Region, Jerwin J. Lopez; Governor-Elect, Bicolandia Region, Jose A. Atibagos II; Governor-Elect, Western Visayas Region, Vincent Pascual B. De Asis; Governor-Elect, Eastern Mindanao Region, Daniel C. Campoamor; and Governor-Elect, Western Mindanao Region, Alena Gale H. Palileo-Yabes.
“With all the challenges the Court is facing today, there is no better time for the IBP to render its full support to the judiciary than now,” the chief magistrate said.