MANILA, Philippines –The Supreme Court will issue a rule requiring the use of body cameras for law enforcers serving search warrants.
“It means the en banc (full court) approved the use of body cameras in the service of warrants but subject to the actual guidelines as may be set in the formal resolution to be issued by the court,” Supreme Court’s Public Information Chief and Spokesperson Brian Keith Hosaka said.
The high court, on its own initiative, has decided to come up with a resolution on the implementation of search warrants. The action on the part of the high court came following calls from lawyers organizations and human rights groups for them to step in on the so-called weaponization of search warrants.
Last March 7, nine activists were killed during the simultaneous implementation of search warrants by the police and the military in the provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas and Rizal (Calabarzon).
The search warrants were issued by Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 4 First Vice Executive Judge Jose Lorenzo Dela Rosa and Manila RTC Branch 174 Presiding Judge Jason Zapanta.
A Supreme Court Administrative Circular allows judges in regional trial courts of Manila and Quezon City to issue search warrants which could be served in areas outside its territorial jurisdiction.