Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
‘Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. S971

Introduced by Rep. Winston “Winnie” Castelo

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Some cities or similar local government units have issued ordinances regulating
the use of closed-circuit television (CCTVs), hidden cameras, or similar digital gadgets
as a form of self-protection or deterrent against unwanted intruders, attackers or
criminals especially in many business establishments.

There are also mansions, houses, apartments, or residences whose owners
have installed CCTVs in order to protect or drive away unwanted attackers or at least to
be able to monitor or record illegal or unlawful entries when they are absent from their
‘own homes.

Under this bill, it is incumbent upon CCTV owners to preserve every information
or recorded data captured in their protective gadgets especially whenever a crime was
committed and that there are no witnesses when it happened but what was left were the
images or sounds captured by said CCTV, hidden camera or similar digital recording
gadget

Therefore, when requested by the proper investigative body or competent court,
it behooves upon the owner of the mansion, house, apartment or residence to volunteer
or cause the submission of information or recorded data in order to facilitate the
administration of justice and not obstruct it. It has now become admissible evidence in
court the submission of the images or sounds captured ona ar like gadget.

It is the view of this author that denial, nofi-disclosure or possible tampering of
evidence otherwise stored or recorded in a CGV or like gadget during thé\commission
of a crime is tantamount to obstruction of jusfice and could be construed a attempt at
tampering evidence, hence this submission.

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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
‘Second Regular Session

5971

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Rep. Winston “Winnie” Castelo

AN ACT
REQUIRING CLOSED-CIRCUIT TELEVISION (CCTV) OWNERS TO YIELD
INFORMATION OR RECORDED DATA ON THE COMMISSION OF A CRIME UPON
REQUEST OF THE PROPER INVESTIGATIVE BODY OR COMPETENT COURT AND
FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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

SECTION 1. This Act shall be known as the “CCTV Recorded Data Act of 2012’.
SEC. 2. It shall be a legal obligation for every CCTV owner to yield information
or recorded data on the commission of a crime especially when requested by the proper
investigative body or competent court.
Denial or non-disclosure of the requested information or recorded data when a
ctime was committed shall obstruct prompt administration of justice and maybe
construed as spoliation or tampering of evidence.

SEC. 3. The Department of Justice shall issue appropriate guidelines, rules and
regulations to effectively implement the provision of this Act.

SEC. 4. All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and regulations inconsistent
with the provision of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 5. This Act shall take effect upon publication in the Official Gazette.
Approved,

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