Bill seeks to compel owners to give up CCTV footage of crimes

Manila, Philippines -  An administration lawmaker is pushing yesterday to make it a legal obligation of owners of closed-circuit television (CCTV) systems and similar gadgets to preserve and surrender recorded data to lawful authorities when a crime is committed.

Quezon City Rep. Winston Castelo filed House Bill 5971 requiring CCTV owners to yield information or recorded data on the commission of a crime upon request or the proper investigative body or competent court.

“Denial or non-disclosure of the requested information or recorded data when a crime is committed may be construed as spoliation or tampering of evidence. Depriving authorities of said data when available is clear obstruction of justice,” he said.

He said some cities or similar local government units have issued ordinances regulating the use of CCTVs, hidden camera, or similar digital gadgets as a form of self-protection or deterrent against intruders, attackers or criminals especially the business sector.

Castelo said the CCTVs or similar gadgets “have proven to be of great relief in many instances when crimes have been committed and no witnesses would come out to account for what really happened.”

He said CCTV footage have become admissible evidence in court.

Castelo said the bill does not prescribe the actual penalties since obstruction of justice is penalized under the Revised Penal Code and similar statutes in the country’s criminal justice system.

The bill was referred to the House committee on justice before Congress went on recess last month.