TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
25 JUL-3 P4:29
SENATE 
S. No. 86
Wi.'t,
Introduced by Senator Raffy T. Tulfo
AN ACT
MANDATING LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS TO USE A BODY-WORN 
CAMERA DURING LAW ENFORCEMENT OPERATIONS, PROVIDING 
PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
EXPLANATORY NOTE
It is written in the 1987 Constitution in Article II. Section 10. "The State shall 
promote social justice in all phases of national development."; and in Article III. 
Section 2 "The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and 
effects against unreasonable searches and seizures of whatever nature and for any 
purpose shall be inviolable, and no search warrant or warrant of arrest shall issue 
except upon probable cause to be determined personally by the judge after 
examination under oath or affirmation of the complainant and the witnesses he may 
produce, and particularly describing the place to be searched and the persons or things 
to be seized."
Law enforcement agencies in the Philippines have similar objectives which are: 
law enforcement, control and prevention of crime, maintain peace and order, and 
ensure public safety and security. In order to have a community that has good 
relations with law enforcers, there needs to be public trust built on transparency and 
accountability.
Body-worn cameras play an important role in the transparency and legitimacy 
of the operations conducted by law enforcement agencies. It can also be 
advantageous for the citizens as it addresses the fear of the public in alarming reports 
of abuses committed by some law enforcers. Furthermore, the use of body-worn


cameras can speed up the resolution of crimes in the country by providing evidence 
of the circumstances surrounding the operation conducted. It strengthens 
accountability and establishes presumption of regularity in the conduct of operations.
Allegations of abuse of power, human rights violations, falsification of evidence 
to name a few have piagued law enforcement agencies. In August 2017,17-year-old 
Kian Delos Santos was killed in a police raid. Poiice claimed the teenager shot at them 
which prompted them to shoot back. Recovered from Kian were two sachets of 
suspected shabu and a caliber .45 gun. Fast forward to November 2018, the three 
poiicemen involved were found guilty of murder. Between those dates were a series 
of investigations proving the inconsistencies in the statements of the involved 
policemen with CCTV footage. Witnesses also came forward, saying that they saw the 
teenager begging for his life before getting shot by the policemen1. In August 2023, 
a 17-year-old Jehrod "Jemboy" Baltazar was killed because the police officer mistook 
him for the suspect. The poiice officer, however, did not turn on his body-worn camera 
during the operation despite the fact that there was a memorandum way back 2021 
ordering ail cops to use body-worn cameras during a search2.
In order to restore public trust, actions towards transparency must be taken. 
One approach to address this predicament is through the use of body-worn cameras 
during law enforcement operations. This would not only ensure the deterrence of 
misconduct or abuse of law enforcement officers, it would also protect said officers 
from false accusations.
This biii seeks to provide comprehensive poiicy on body-worn cameras of all 
law enforcement agencies, particularly but not limited to the Philippine Nationai Poiice 
(PNP), the Nationai Bureau of Investigation (NBI), and the Philippine Drug 
Enforcement Agency (PDEA) granting that it wiil not be used in situations such as 
gathering Intelligence information based on protected speeches, associations, or 
religion, to record activity that Is unrelated to a response to a call or service or a law 
enforcement or investigative encounter between a law enforcement officer and the
1 https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/specials/content/24/the-kian-delos-santos-case-a-timeline/
2 https://www.philstar.eom/headlines/2023/08/15/2288834/lawmakers-bat-mandatory-use-body- 
cams-after-killing-navotas-teen


member of the public, and if it would pose a serious threat to national security, among 
others.
In view of the foregoing, the immediate enactment of this proposed legislation is 
earnestly sought.


TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE 
S. No.
25 JLl-3 P4:29
r, - ■
Introduced by Senator Raffy T. Tulfo
AN ACT
MANDATING LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS TO USE A BODY-WORN 
CAMERA DURING LAW ENFORCEMENT OPERATIONS, PROVIDING 
PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the 
Philippines, in Congress assembled:
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Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shail be known as "Law Enforcement Body-
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worn Camera Act".
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Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the declared duty of the State to maintain
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peace and order, protect life, liberty and property and promote the general welfare.
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Towards this end, the State shall continuously develop mechanisms to help improve
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law enforcement transparency and accountability through:
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a) Proper documentation of interactions between law enforcement officers and
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the public during law enforcement operations;
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b) Utilization of modern technology as a tool to deter incidents of abuse or
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misconduct by law enforcement officers during legitimate law enforcement
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operations, as well as safeguard these law enforcement officers' rights against
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false accusations;
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c) Formulation of means to reduce the cost and impact of crime in the community;
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and


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d) Improvement in community relations between law enforcement officers and the
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public by maintaining policies that baiance the rights of the public for privacy
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and the promotion of accountabiiity during law enforcement operations.
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Sec. 3. - Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act:
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(a) Alternative Recording Device (ARD) refers to an electronic camera system
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which is not a body-worn camera, that is capable of creating, generating,
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sending, receiving, storing, displaying, and processing audio-visual recordings,
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and may be worn during law enforcement activities. To be used as a functional
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equivalent of body-worn camera as defined herein, it shall comply with the
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minimum requirements set forth by the law enforcement agencies in
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accordance with this Act: Provided, That the alternative recording device shall
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be capable of capturing with reasonable clarity the events that transpire during
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the law enforcement operation;
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(b) Body-worn Camera (BWC) refers to an electronic camera system designated to
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law enforcement units for creating, generating, sending, receiving, storing,
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displaying, and processing audio-visual recordings that shall be worn during
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law enforcement operation;
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(c) Data Custodian refers to a designated officer who has the responsibility of
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storing and safekeeping data recorded from body-worn cameras and other
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alternative recording device;
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(d) Law Enforcement Agency refers to the Philippine National Police, the Nationai
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Bureau of Investigation, and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency;
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(e) Law Enforcement Officer rr\eer\s any person authorized by law to conduct law
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enforcement, special police operations, including but not limited to preventing,
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investigating apprehending, or detaining individuals suspected or convicted of
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offenses punishable under Philippine laws, and other similar police, and law
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enforcement operations;
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(f) Law Enforcement Operation refers to any legitimate operations to enforce laws,
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statues, executive orders, and ordinances including but not limited to the
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service of warrant of arrest, hot pursuit operations, enforcement of visitorial
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powers, anti-illegal drug operations, anti-cybercrime operations, anti-human
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trafficking operations, checkpoint operations; and


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(g) Recording refers to digital material generated as a result of using body-worn 
cameras or alternative recording devices, which contains images and audio­
video footages. It shall include the copies of the material created by way of 
copying to portable media storage and other data repositories.
Sec. 4. Mandatory Use of Body-worn Camera. - Law enforcement officers are 
hereby mandated to wear and activate body-worn cameras to capture and record the 
conduct of law enforcement operations: Provided, That in case of unavailability of 
body-worn cameras, he law enforcement officers shall use alternative recording 
devices subject to the requirements under this Act.
Sec. 5. Minimum Standards for Body-worn Camera. - Body-worn camera shall 
meet the following minimum standard requirements:
(a) Video resolution
(b) Frame rate
(c) Audio
(d) Date and Time stamping
(e) GPS
(f) Battery life
(g) Storage
(h) Low-light recording
720p
30 frames per second
Built-in
Built-in
Built-in
eight (8) hours continuous 
capable of storing eight (8) hours
continuous audio video footage
with a night mode built in, a low lux
rating, and/or and infrared (IR)
illuminator
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Sec. 6. Guidelines for the Use of Body-worn Camera. - Law enforcement
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officers mandated to wear body-worn camera under this Act shall ensure that:
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(a) Both video and audio recording functions of the BWs/ARDs shall be activated
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and shall commence recording:
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i. For Warrant of Arrest and Search Warrant Execution, when officers
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approach the target location or upon receiving instructions to proceed
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with the operation;


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ii. For Warrantless Arrest or Search, at the time when officers have
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reasonabie suspicion or probable cause to conduct such actions;
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iii. For Entrapment, Buy-Bust Operations, and other pianned iaw
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enforcement operations, immediately upon arriving at the place of
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operations;
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iv. For Hot Pursuit Operations, as soon as officers are engaged in pursuit
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of suspects or vehicles involved In criminal activities, ensuring that
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recording captures the entire pursuit; and
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V. For Response to Calls or Services, upon dispatch of a law enforcement
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officer in response to a call or service request.
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(b)The Recording shall only be terminated:
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i. For Warrant of Arrest and Search Warrant Execution, when the law
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enforcement officers have completed the execution of the warrant, ieft
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the premises or area specified in the warrant, and endorsement 
of
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custody of the person arrested and the items seized to the authorized
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unit or agency;
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ii. For Warrantless Arrest or Search, upon conclusion of the warrantiess
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arrest or search, including the transportation of suspects or evidence
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for custody to the authorized unit or agency;
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iii. For Entrapment Operation, Buy-Bust Operation, and other pianned iaw
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enforcement operations, upon the conclusion of the buy-bust operation,
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encompassing the arrest of suspects, seizure of contraband, departure
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of law enforcement officers from the operation location, and the taking
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of the arrested persons and seized items for custody to the appropriate
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unit or agency;
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iv. For Hot Pursuit Operations, upon the conciusion of pursuit, either upon
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the apprehension and taking for custody of suspects or upon officers
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discontinuing the pursuit and the return of law enforcement officers to
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their respective units; and
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V. For Response to Calis or Services: Recording shall persist until the
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officers have resolved the situation or incident at the scene and have


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left the premises, ensuring comprehensive documentation of the 
response.
(c) Body-worn cameras shail be worn in a location and manner that maximizes 
the camera's ability to capture a video footage of the law enforcement 
officer's activities during the conduct of law enforcement operation; and
(d) Body-worn camera shall record in full all the activities incidental to the 
conduct of the operation.
Sec. 7. Prohibition on the Use of Body-worn Cameras. - The use of body 
camera shall not be allowed in the foliowing instances:
(a) It shall not be used to gather intelligence information based on protected 
speeches, associations, or religion, or to record activity that is unrelated 
to a response to a call or service or a iaw enforcement or investigative 
encounter between a law enforcement officer and the member of the 
public;
(b) In locations where individuals have a reasonable expectation of privacy, 
unless the recording is being made pursuant to a valid arrest or search 
warrant of the individuals or location, or pursuant to a vaiid warrantless 
arrest and search in accordance with estabiished rules;
(c) During privileged communications between the subject of recordings 
and other individuals, such as attorneys, members of the clergy, peer 
support counselors, and medical professionals;
(d) The recording would pose a serious threat to national security; and
(e) To obtain data or information surreptitiously that is unrelated to the 
purpose of the law enforcement operation being conducted.
Sec. 8. Submission of Recording. - Any iaw enforcement officer tasked 
to wear and activate BWs or ARDs shall submit to the data custodian of their 
law enforcement agency the recordings of their BWs or ARDs used in the 
law enforcement operation within forty-eight (48) hours from the 
termination of such law enforcement operation. Failure to submit the 
recordings within the period of time specified herein may subject the 
concerned iaw enforcement officer to administrative penalty.


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Sec. 9. Custody and Period of Retention of the Recordings. - All 
recordings from the body-worn camera or alternative recording devices 
used during the operation shall be stored in an external media storage 
device and shall be under the custody of the law enforcement agency that 
employs the officer whose camera captured the footage, or an authorized 
agent thereof, for thirty (30) days after the date it was endorsed to the data 
custodian of such law enforcement agency. In case there is an order from 
a judicial, administrative, or quasi-judicial body requesting for a copy of the 
footage, said footage shall be retained by the data custodian and will be 
permanently deleted only after the termination of the case.
Sec. 10. Use of Redaction Technoiogy. - Whenever doing so is necessary 
to protect an individuai's personal data, the Identity of a confidential source 
or crime victim, or the life or physical safety of any person appearing in 
video footage, redaction technology may be used to obscure the face and 
other personally identifying characteristics of that person, including the tone 
of the person's voice: Provided, That the redaction does not interfere with 
a viewer's ability to fully, completely, and accurately comprehend the events 
captured on the video footage: Provided, further. That when redaction is 
performed on video footage pursuant to this Section, an unedited, original 
version of the video footage shali be retained by the iaw enforcement 
agency: Provided, finally. That no other editing or alteration of video 
footage, inciuding a reduction of the video footage's resolution, shall be 
permitted under this Act.
Sec. 11. Access and Disciosure of Recordings. - Subject to the provisions 
of Republic Act No. 10173, otherwise known as the "Data Privacy Act of 
2012", only persons duly authorized by the head of the concerned law 
enforcement agency may be allowed to access recordings under their 
custody. The head of iaw enforcement agency may, in its discretion, grant 
the use, viewing, copying, or disciosure of recording to upon request of the 
following individuals:


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(a) Law enforcement officers, in connection with the subject of the
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operation or incidentai to the occurrence of their operation;
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(b)Any person who is a subject of the recording or his or her counsei:
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Provided, That in case of a minor, his or her parent, guardian or counsel
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may be authorized;
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(c) The spouse, next of kin, or legally authorized designee of a deceased
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subject of the recording, or his or her counsel;
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(d)Any parties in interest in connection with a pending criminal or civil
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proceeding to prevent a serious threat to the fair administration of
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justice; and
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(e)Any person duly authorized to determine administrative or criminal
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violation of a law enforcement officer during the course of law
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enforcement operation.
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Sec. 12. Prohibited Acts. It shall be unlawful for any of the identified
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persons to perform the following acts:
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(a) Faiiure to Observe the Requirements for Body-Worn Cameras. - Any law
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enforcement officer who fails to adhere with the requirements on the
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mandatory use of body-worn cameras, or as prescribed in Sections 4, 6, 7, 8,
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and 9 of this Act shall be subject to the following penalties:
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(1) first offense - punishable by suspension of one (1) month and one
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(1) day to six (6) months;
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(2) second offense - punishable by suspension of six (6) months and one
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(1) day to one (1) year plus demotion to the next lower position:
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Provided, That in case there is no such next lower position available,
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he or she shall suffer diminution in salary corresponding to the next
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lower salary grade; and
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(3) third offense - dismissal from the service;
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(b) Accessing Recording Due to Negiigence. - Any person who, due to negligence,
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provides access to recordings without being authorized under this Act or any
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existing law shall be penalized by imprisonment ranging from one (1) year to
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three (3) years and a fine of not less than Five Hundred Thousand Pesos
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(Php500,000.00) but not more than Two Million Pesos (Php2,000,000.00);


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(c) Spoliation of recording. - Any person who will tamper with, alter, conceal,
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manipulate, falsify, or destroy a recording with the intent to interfere with an
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investigation shali be penaiized by imprisonment ranging from six (6) months
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to two (2) years and a fine of not iess than One Hundred Thousand Pesos
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(Phpl00,000.00) but not more than Five Hundred Thousand Pesos
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(Php500,000.00); and
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(d) Unauthorized Use of Recordings - Any use of the recording that are not in
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accordance with the objective of this Act shall be punishable with an
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imprisonment of not iess than six (6) months but not exceeding six (6) years,
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or a fine not less than One Hundred Thousand Pesos (Php 100,000.00) but not
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more than One Million Pesos (Php 1,000,000.00) or both such fine and
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imprisonment at the discretion of the court.
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Sec. 13. Appropriations. - The initial amount necessary for the implementation
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of this Act shali be charged against the current fiscal year's appropriations of the
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law enforcement agency involved. Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for
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the continued implementation of this Act shall be included in the annual General
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Appropriations Act.
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Sec. 14. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Department of the Interior
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and Local Government and the Department of Justice, in consultation with the PNP,
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NBI, PDEA, and other concerned government agency, shall within sixty (60) days
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from the effectivity of this Act, promulgate the rules and regulations to effectively
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implement the provisions of this Act.
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Sec. 15. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is held invalid or
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unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity and effectivity of the other
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provisions hereof.
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Sec. 16. Repealing Clause. - All other laws, decrees, executive orders and rules
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and regulations contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are
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hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
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Sec. 17. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
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complete publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,
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